side·track
ˈsīd-ˌtrak 
1
2
: a position or condition of secondary importance to which one may be diverted
sidetracked; sidetracking; sidetracks
1
: to shunt aside (as to a railroad siding)
2
a
: to turn aside from a purpose : deflect
b
: to prevent action on by diversionary tactics
sidetrack an issue
Examples of sidetrack in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Even so, the path to his current status as a senior starting defensive tackle at FIU has had its share of sorrow, sidetracks and setbacks.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Before their strike-era sidetrack, Braff and Faison had recapped their way to the midpoint of Scrubs’ eighth and penultimate season.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2023
But Becker and Tiriac are aiming for the long-term volley that a career sidetrack could impede.
—Angela Gaudioso, SPIN, 22 May 2022
The Pym arrow is a nice touch, as is the sidetrack through the Christmas tree lot.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2021
The rest is just a sidetrack, though neither goal will be easy.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2021
One of those sidetracks runs behind the International Trade Center and past the city’s public waterfront facilities Any freight rail train holding on this track blocks all freight railroad services into the main port complex.
—John Sharp | Jsharp@al.com, al, 17 Dec. 2019
The construction of a train station at Brookley would also require an additional $2.5 million to finance the construction of a sidetrack that would connect the main line to it.
—al, 20 Dec. 2019
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2024
That case has been sidetracked by allegations that Willis hired a romantic partner to run the prosecution.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
The two go back to their days in Oakland, where Melvin managed Jefferies as an up-and-coming prospect before his career was sidetracked by two Tommy John surgeries and thoracic outlet syndrome.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
The film becomes only more frustrating to watch as the creatures get sidetracked facing off against lesser adversaries.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
Don’t get sidetracked Dominic Monkhouse, founder of Monkhouse & Company, who coaches and mentors CEOs of scale-up tech businesses, says he is baffled by leaders pushing for rapid growth yet who insist on doing their own admin tasks.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
There’s hope that focusing on just one aspect of the game can hasten Crawford’s development, which has been sidetracked by injuries.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024
But… there’s a common obstacle people trip over when working with personas: They get sidetracked by the fluff, wasting time and missing the true strategic gold.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Bender: The 29-year-old righty reliever made an immediate impact in 2021 before a pair of injuries — first his hip and then his right elbow — sidetracked his 2022 and kept him out for 2023.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024
Noun
The dream sequences, flashbacks and sidetracks don’t always succeed, and Torres’s absurdist humor is hit-or-miss.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Even so, the path to his current status as a senior starting defensive tackle at FIU has had its share of sorrow, sidetracks and setbacks.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Before their strike-era sidetrack, Braff and Faison had recapped their way to the midpoint of Scrubs’ eighth and penultimate season.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2023
But Becker and Tiriac are aiming for the long-term volley that a career sidetrack could impede.
—Angela Gaudioso, SPIN, 22 May 2022
The Pym arrow is a nice touch, as is the sidetrack through the Christmas tree lot.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2021
The rest is just a sidetrack, though neither goal will be easy.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2021
One of those sidetracks runs behind the International Trade Center and past the city’s public waterfront facilities Any freight rail train holding on this track blocks all freight railroad services into the main port complex.
—John Sharp | Jsharp@al.com, al, 17 Dec. 2019
The construction of a train station at Brookley would also require an additional $2.5 million to finance the construction of a sidetrack that would connect the main line to it.
—al, 20 Dec. 2019
Verb
Wolfe sustained the injury three times to his left foot while playing football at USC, sidetracking what had the makings of a solid college career.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2024
That case has been sidetracked by allegations that Willis hired a romantic partner to run the prosecution.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
The two go back to their days in Oakland, where Melvin managed Jefferies as an up-and-coming prospect before his career was sidetracked by two Tommy John surgeries and thoracic outlet syndrome.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
The film becomes only more frustrating to watch as the creatures get sidetracked facing off against lesser adversaries.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
Don’t get sidetracked Dominic Monkhouse, founder of Monkhouse & Company, who coaches and mentors CEOs of scale-up tech businesses, says he is baffled by leaders pushing for rapid growth yet who insist on doing their own admin tasks.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
There’s hope that focusing on just one aspect of the game can hasten Crawford’s development, which has been sidetracked by injuries.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024
But… there’s a common obstacle people trip over when working with personas: They get sidetracked by the fluff, wasting time and missing the true strategic gold.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Bender: The 29-year-old righty reliever made an immediate impact in 2021 before a pair of injuries — first his hip and then his right elbow — sidetracked his 2022 and kept him out for 2023.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sidetrack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sidetrack
Cite this Entry
“Sidetrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sidetrack. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sidetrack
1 of 2 noun
side·track
ˈsīd-ˌtrak
sidetrack
2 of 2 verb1
: to transfer from a main railroad line to a siding
2
: to turn aside from a main purpose or use
got sidetracked by all the phone calls
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