1
: to or toward the side
stepped aside
2
: away from others or into privacy
pulled him aside
3
: out of the way especially for future use : away
putting aside savings
4
: away from one's thought or consideration
All kidding aside, we really need to get busy.
1
: an utterance not meant to be heard by someone
especially
: an actor's speech heard by the audience but supposedly not by other characters
2
: a comment or discussion that does not relate directly to the main subject being discussed : digression
He frequently interrupted his narrative with amusing asides.
Examples of aside in a Sentence
Adverb
He stepped aside and let her pass.
He threw his coat aside.
She laid the book aside.
He elbowed people aside as he moved through the crowd.
He took her aside to speak to her privately.
Someone grabbed him and pulled him aside.
Noun
She made a joke about the food in a muttered aside to her husband.
The book includes several lengthy asides about the personal lives of scientists involved in the project.
In his speech he mentioned her contributions almost as an aside, despite the fact that she was the one who came up with the idea originally.
Recent Examples on the Web
Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Ben, who is worried about developing a reputation as The Worst Boss in the World, pulls Ellie aside for a talk.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Their conversation would often go off the rails thanks to humous asides and stories.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Let’s set aside the issue of who’s funding what for now and talk about the Alliance for a Better Future itself.
—Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aside
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adverb
One day there was a doctor, who took me aside.
—Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Ben, who is worried about developing a reputation as The Worst Boss in the World, pulls Ellie aside for a talk.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
To even the score, Weir’s novel describes ammonia-breathing Rocky as smelling like cat pee, an aside the script politely omits.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Their conversation would often go off the rails thanks to humous asides and stories.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
Preposition
If income varies, create a simple cushion by setting aside a small percentage whenever money comes in.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Let’s set aside the issue of who’s funding what for now and talk about the Alliance for a Better Future itself.
—Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aside
Cite this Entry
“Aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aside. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aside
2 of 2 noun
: words meant not to be heard by someone
especially
: an actor's words supposedly not heard by others on the stage
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