1
: a line at right angles to a goal line or end line and marking a side of a court or field of play for athletic games
2
a
: a line of goods sold in addition to one's principal line
b
: a business or activity pursued in addition to one's regular occupation
3
a
: the space immediately outside the lines along either side of an athletic field or court
b
: a sphere of little or no participation or activity
—usually used in plural
Examples of sideline in a Sentence
Noun
She makes and sells jewelry as a sideline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Additionally, a chunk of the shares are stuck on the sidelines due to lock-up restrictions that prohibit insiders from selling their stock.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Another factor prompting Gen X to consider moving sooner to purchase a home for their retirement years is the crunch in the housing market, which was stuck in a deep freeze for most of 2023 as high interest rates kept many buyers and sellers on the sidelines.
—Gregory Schmidt, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
He will be joined by Bill Rafferty and Grant Hill on the call; Tracy Wolfson will be the sideline reporter.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Wide receiver Austin Bolt made an acrobatic, diving catch on a deep ball, and Marshall has managed to keep his feet in bounds on a couple of deep passes near the sideline.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
The extras were being radioed into place and Watanabe and Elgort were each taking a moment to themselves on the sidelines, preparing for their frantic meeting on camera.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2024
While the Belgian didn't even make it to Matchday 1 after pulling up in training, the Brazilian at least ran out against Athletic Club in San Mames before being confined to the sidelines.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Vinnie is met first taking over the ball in a local park where a match is on among young boys, invoking the wrath of a father on the sidelines.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
Susan Page, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
After the game, LeBron James complained about an illness that would sideline him Sunday against Minnesota.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
He was sidelined with injuries during the 1959 championship run, but went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters and for semiprofessional teams.
—Sopan Deb, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Householder won, thanks to Democrats, and Kelly was sidelined.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024
An unbiased but courageous perspective from a woman who has been unduly sidelined goes a long way in shaping the conversation and inspiring other women who have suffered the same or a similar fate.
—Abiola Salami, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Schoomaker suffered a shoulder injury training last week and was also forced to undergo surgery that will keep him sidelined until the start of training camp in August.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
With Marcos Alonso also often sidelined with his own knocks, the development has seen Xavi have to deploy right back Joao Cancelo on the opposite flank.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The Gardner-Webb alum started six games for Oakland before an elbow injury sidelined Miller from May 7 until September.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Dressed in her best Western wear, Hadid cheered from the sidelines while Banuelos competed and won in the Arlington, Texas, event.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Additionally, a chunk of the shares are stuck on the sidelines due to lock-up restrictions that prohibit insiders from selling their stock.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Another factor prompting Gen X to consider moving sooner to purchase a home for their retirement years is the crunch in the housing market, which was stuck in a deep freeze for most of 2023 as high interest rates kept many buyers and sellers on the sidelines.
—Gregory Schmidt, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
He will be joined by Bill Rafferty and Grant Hill on the call; Tracy Wolfson will be the sideline reporter.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Wide receiver Austin Bolt made an acrobatic, diving catch on a deep ball, and Marshall has managed to keep his feet in bounds on a couple of deep passes near the sideline.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
The extras were being radioed into place and Watanabe and Elgort were each taking a moment to themselves on the sidelines, preparing for their frantic meeting on camera.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2024
While the Belgian didn't even make it to Matchday 1 after pulling up in training, the Brazilian at least ran out against Athletic Club in San Mames before being confined to the sidelines.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Vinnie is met first taking over the ball in a local park where a match is on among young boys, invoking the wrath of a father on the sidelines.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
In 1975, to Reasoner’s satisfaction, Smith had been sidelined to be a commentator.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
After the game, LeBron James complained about an illness that would sideline him Sunday against Minnesota.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
He was sidelined with injuries during the 1959 championship run, but went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters and for semiprofessional teams.
—Sopan Deb, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Householder won, thanks to Democrats, and Kelly was sidelined.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024
An unbiased but courageous perspective from a woman who has been unduly sidelined goes a long way in shaping the conversation and inspiring other women who have suffered the same or a similar fate.
—Abiola Salami, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Schoomaker suffered a shoulder injury training last week and was also forced to undergo surgery that will keep him sidelined until the start of training camp in August.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
With Marcos Alonso also often sidelined with his own knocks, the development has seen Xavi have to deploy right back Joao Cancelo on the opposite flank.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The Gardner-Webb alum started six games for Oakland before an elbow injury sidelined Miller from May 7 until September.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sideline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sideline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideline. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
sideline
noun
side·line
-ˌlīn
1
: a line marking the side of a playing field or court
2
: a business or job done in addition to one's regular occupation
More from Merriam-Webster on sideline
Nglish: Translation of sideline for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sideline for Arabic Speakers
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