side

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: the right or left part of the wall or trunk of the body
a pain in the side
b(1)
: one of the halves of the animal body on either side of the median plane
(2)
: a cut of meat including that about the ribs of one half of the body
used chiefly of smoked pork products
c
: one longitudinal half of a hide
2
: a place, space, or direction with respect to a center or to a line of division (as of an aisle, river, or street)
3
a
: one of the longer bounding surfaces or lines of an object especially contrasted with the ends
the side of a barn
b
: a line or surface forming a border or face of an object
a die has six sides
the back side of the moon
c
: either surface of a thin object
one side of a record
right side of the cloth
d
: a bounding line of a geometric figure
side of a triangle
4
a
: the space beside one
stood by my side
b
: an area next to something
usually used in combination
a poolside interview
5
: a slope (as of a hill) considered as opposed to another slope
the far side of the hill
6
a
: the attitude or activity of one person or group with respect to another : part
there was no malice on my side
b
: a position that is opposite to or contrasted with another
two sides to every question
came down on the side of law and order
c
: a body of partisans or contestants
victory for neither side
d
: team sense 1a
11 players on each side
also : the players on a baseball team batting in an inning
struck out the side
7
: a line of descent traced through one's parent
grandfather on his mother's side
8
: an aspect or part of something contrasted with some other real or implied aspect or part
the better side of his nature
the sales side of the business
the seasoning is a bit on the heavy side
9
British : sideways spin imparted to a billiard or snooker ball
10
: a sheet containing the lines and cues for a single theatrical role
11
: a recording of music
12
: a side order or dish
a side of fries

side

2 of 4

adjective

1
a
: situated on the side
side window
b
: of or relating to the side
2
a
: directed toward or from the side
side thrust
side wind
b
: incidental, indirect
side issue
side remark
c
: made on the side
side payment
d
: additional to the main portion
a side order of french fries

side

3 of 4

verb

sided; siding

transitive verb

1
: to agree with : support
2
: to be side by side with
3
: to set or put aside : clear away
side the dishes
4
: to furnish with sides or siding
side a house

intransitive verb

: to take sides : join or form sides
sided with the rebels

side

4 of 4

noun (2)

chiefly British
: swaggering or arrogant manner : pretentiousness
Phrases
on the side
1
: in addition to the main portion
2
: in addition to a principal occupation
3
: secretly outside of one's marriage or romantic relationship
seeing another woman on the side
this side of
: short of : almost
an attitude just this side of scandalous

Examples of side in a Sentence

Adjective a front and side view of the car The jacket has side pockets. Please use the side door. A side benefit of the drug is that it helps patients relax. She took on a side project during the summer. I had a burger with a side order of fries. I'll have rice as a side dish. Verb They just sided their house.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Under the anti-SLAPP statute, the prevailing party can file to recoup its attorneys fees from the other side. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Niall Horan and Liam Payne continue on with their business on stage, with only Louis Tomlinson appearing to notice what was happening to the side. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024 The team said Treinen had a bruised lung, though no broken ribs, because of a comebacker that nailed him in his side during an appearance Saturday. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Its centerpiece octagonal pool lined with pillars sits adjacent to the Buda side of the city’s iconic Elizabeth Bridge, underneath a dramatic dome dating back to 1572. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 The aggregate scores were level 2-2 after a rollercoaster match at the Metropolitano Stadium, with the Spanish side winning the resulting penalty shootout 3-2. Ben Church, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 On the winning side of Wall Street was Williams-Sonoma, which jumped 17.8% and increased its dividend 26%. Yuri Kageyama, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 After a major explosion of pollen during the warmest March on record in 2012, counts remained on the lower side for the rest of the season, Kosisky said. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 For just that reason, Conestoga wagons had the controls on the left side, close to the wagon driver’s right hand. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Despite the pressure, the midfielder was laughing and joking with the children lining up in front of the players before kick-off, doing his best to reassure them amid the boisterous atmosphere created by the fans desperate to see their side progress in Europe’s premier competition. Ben Church, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 For many of these young adults, this means filing taxes for the first time, or dealing with more complex taxes due to having side gigs, student loans, and other financial responsibilities. Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 But Carrefour has on its side European governments, which have been pressuring big companies to lower prices in the battle against inflation. Steve Mollman, Fortune Europe, 4 Jan. 2024 The bag is incredibly spacious with side pockets for storing small things and a design that folds into itself to save space when storing it. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023 Plus, there are still plenty of side objectives to explore, parkour and climbing challenges, and historical footnotes to find, explaining the location and culture of each era. WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023 Hailey Bieber completed her ensemble with gold hoops and a simple updo with side bangs left out to frame her face, and posed in front of a…screen print of a New York storefront? Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2023 The game shines brightest in its most tender moments, some of which come unexpectedly through side quests. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 16 Oct. 2023 Looping acoustic guitar, warm saxophone, muffled drums, and various field recordings come and go like characters encountered on side quests, with Margaret’s piano leading the pack on a spontaneous journey. Pitchfork, 28 Sep. 2023
Verb
By broiling them with the cup side down, the oyster essentially poaches in its own briny liquor, eliminating the need for any additional liquid in the pan. Hannah Lee Leidy, Bon Appétit, 14 Dec. 2023 Wins and losses On the boys side, there are 11 teams in the 96-team field with 20 wins. John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2024 Well, according to Oreo’s 2024 Super Bowl ad, which side the delicious filling ends up on after a twist of the cookies has determined some seriously big decisions in the past. Anna Chan, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024 Trees swayed, flags pulled against their fastenings and metal traffic signs twisted from side to side on their stanchions, as the west wind swept without limits or restraints down the streets and avenues of the city. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2024 The nature of the Google suit — where a jury sided unanimously with Epic — let actual consumers weigh in on the world of smartphone apps. Mark Gurman, Bloomberg.com, 12 Dec. 2023 But probably not every one of them takes its interest in the people side as seriously as Montage. Roger Trapp, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 His campaign appealed the decision, but a Maine Superior Court judge sided on Thursday with the secretary of state's handling of the situation. Grace Kazarian, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2023 That’s because extreme radiant heat can crack windows or cause eaves and siding to catch fire, said Eric Knapp, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station and one of the study’s authors. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'side.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English sīde; akin to Old High German sīta side, Old English sīd ample, wide

Noun (2)

obsolete English side proud, boastful

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1585, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of side was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near side

Cite this Entry

“Side.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/side. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

side

1 of 3 noun
1
a
: the right or left part of the trunk of the body
a pain in the side
stood at her side
b
: the entire right or left half of the animal body
a side of beef
2
: a place, space, or direction away from or beyond a central point or line
set it to one side
3
: a surface or line forming a border or face of an object
a cube has six sides
4
: an outer part of a thing considered as facing in a certain direction
the back side of the moon
5
a
: a straight-line segment forming part of the boundary of a geometric figure
side of a square
b
: one of the longer surfaces that form the boundary of a solid
lay the book on its side
c
: either surface of a thin object
one side of a record
6
: a position or part of something viewed as opposite or different from another
my side of the story
try to look on the good side
never saw this side of his personality
7
: a body of contestants
our side won
8
: a line of ancestors traced back from either parent
a grandfather on his mother's side
9
: a side dish ordered separately
a side of fries

side

2 of 3 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or located on the side
side window
2
: going toward or coming from the side
side wind
3
: being in addition to something more important : incidental
a side issue

side

3 of 3 verb
sided; siding
1
: to take the same side
sided with our friend in the argument
2
: to put siding on
side a house

Medical Definition

side

noun
1
: the right or left part of the wall or trunk of the body
a pain in the side
2
: one of the halves of the animal body on either side of the midsagittal plane
3
: a lateral half or part of an organ or structure
burned on the right side of one leg

More from Merriam-Webster on side

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