aside

adverb \ ə-ˈsīd \

|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

Examples: aside in a Sentence

Definition of aside

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.

See aside defined for English-language learners

See aside defined for kids

Examples of aside in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of aside from the Web

That happened just after the port scrapped a plan to set aside an 80-foot tall section of the Hilton Bayfront hotel garage for ads that would appear up to 334 days a year and generate up to $100,000 per year.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Public outcry prompts port to shelve looser policy for building wrap ads," 13 July 2018
While quinoa simmers, cook pasta in a large saucepan according to package directions, drain and set aside but reserve pasta water.

— jennifer rude klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Table for 1: For solo diners, cooking at home offers many perks," 12 July 2018
Since the verdict, Judge Howard has denied a motion by the county to set aside the judgment.

— allan vought, The Aegis, "Judge turns down Harford's request to waive bond in $45 million rubblefill judgment appeal," 12 July 2018
Swirl: Slice 4 or 5 fresh strawberries into thin rounds; set aside.

— leah eskin, chicagotribune.com, "Re-create Popsicle dreams with fresh strawberries — and powerful boost from freeze-dried version," 11 July 2018
Armadillo Boulders will offer a variety of amenities, including yoga and pilates classes, weight training and exercise equipment, and set aside two hours a day — 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. — exclusively for families for climb.

— rye druzin, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio joins other Texas cities with its own standalone bouldering gym," 11 July 2018
In her book, Unsubscribe , author Jocelyn K Glei suggests setting aside no more than two or three blocks of 30 minutes a day for checking emails.

— melissa locker, ajc, "Here’s why you should stop checking your email in the morning," 10 July 2018
Even with those issues set aside, the laser is also suspect for its impossibly light and compact design.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "Everything Suspicious About China's Laser Rifle Claims," 9 July 2018
Twenty states require for-profit colleges, whose collective enrollment in the spring was 925,532, to set aside money to reimburse students who are defrauded or if the institutions close, according to the National Consumer Law Center.

— jon marcus /, NBC News, "As the Trump administration pulls back, states step in to regulate questionable colleges," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aside.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of aside

see ¹side

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

aside

noun

Definition of aside

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.

See aside defined for English-language learners

Examples of aside in a Sentence

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 of aside from the Web

Howery has some of the best humorous asides, and his chemistry with Irving keeps the film on track.

— katie walsh, latimes.com, "'Uncle Drew' is the surprise comedy of the summer," 28 June 2018
Elements of that plan are part of the construction-tax package, though the set-asides allowing developers to build taller and denser buildings would be voluntary and the density bonuses enhanced.

— scott calvert, WSJ, "Philadelphia’s Affordable-Housing Plan: a Tax on New Buildings," 11 June 2018
And to random asides on matters like Things That Make a Wasp Giggle.

— karen valby, New York Times, "Turning Myths and Fairy Tales on Their Heads," 4 May 2018
But her brilliant asides, combined with the silken movement of each testament’s ceding to the next, also give us the feeling of watching a deep, cold river.

— joan frank, SFChronicle.com, "‘Kudos,’ by Rachel Cusk," 6 July 2018
The actors' voices are capable and their improvised asides clever, but punchlines feel thrown away, without the campiness necessary for a truly successful parody.

— marissa oberlander, Chicago Reader, "Wild Women of Planet Wongo," 21 June 2018
In a movie that features the Incredible Hulk fighting a giant undead wolf on a rainbow bridge, the film's most memorable moments are its truly funny asides.

— tom philip, GQ, "Marvel's Funniest Movie Is Now on Netflix," 11 June 2018
Springfield is full of humorous asides and fun facts, including 23 steps to making an episode and why the characters are yellow.

— bill keveney, USA TODAY, "'Springfield Confidential' spills juicy secrets of 'The Simpsons'," 11 June 2018
Allusions, dramatic asides, neologisms and flamboyant punctuation became the hallmarks of his style.

— thomas curwen, sacbee, "Tom Wolfe, novelist and pioneer of New Journalism, dies at 88 | The Sacramento Bee," 15 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of aside

see ¹side

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1751

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

aside Synonyms

Synonyms

digression, excursion, tangent;

aside

preposition

Definition of aside

obsolete

: beyond, past

Origin and Etymology of aside

see ¹side

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1592

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

ASIDE Defined for English Language Learners

aside

adverb

Definition of aside for English Language Learners

: to or toward the side
—used with put or set to describe something that is being kept or saved for a future use
—used to say that something is not included in a statement that follows

aside

noun

Definition of aside for English Language Learners

: a comment spoken by a character in a play that is heard by the audience but is supposedly not heard by other characters on stage
: a comment that is spoken quietly to someone so that it cannot be heard by other people who are present
: a comment or discussion that does not relate directly to the main subject being discussed