sidle

verb

si·​dle ˈsī-dᵊl 

sidled; sidling ˈsī-dᵊl-iŋ 

ˈsīd-liŋ

intransitive verb

: to go or move with one side foremost especially in a furtive advance

transitive verb

: to cause to move or turn sideways

sidle noun

Examples of sidle in a Sentence

He sidled up to me and slipped me a note.

She sidled over and whispered, “Do you see that guy?”.

She sidled through the narrow opening.

Recent Examples on the Web

To the public, the two women formed a fast friendship after Swift casually sidled into a private suite at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in September 2023. — Lisa Gutierrez july 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Billy sidled our boat up to the toothlike rock in the current. — Hank Bradshaw, Outdoor Life, 24 June 2026

The skinny teenager sidled up to a team official, shyly. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 24 June 2026

But sidle up to the bar, eerily silent until the restaurant quickly fills with chatter, and order a stiff drink before settling into a table and digging into heaping plates of pasta, milanesa, and a Caesar salad that always hits the spot. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably back-formation from sideling entry 2

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for sidle

• apsidal
• subtidal
• bactericidal
• insecticidal
• bridal
• bridle
• idle
• idol
• idyll
• seidel
• tidal
• widal

Kids Definition

sidle

verb

si·​dle ˈsīd-ᵊl 

sidled; sidling ˈsīd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to go or move with one side forward

the waiter sidled around the end of the counter