wayside

noun

way·​side ˈwā-ˌsīd How to pronounce wayside (audio)
: the side of or land adjacent to a road or path
wayside adjective
Phrases
by the wayside
: out of consideration : into a condition of neglect or disuse
usually used with fall

Examples of wayside in a Sentence

Flowers grew along the wayside.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Luckily, plenty of celebrities are proving that roomier styles shouldn’t fall to the wayside amid their resurgence. Clara McMahon, People.com, 29 July 2025 More than a decade and a half into his life in the spotlight, Justin Bieber has been able to maintain success in the music industry while many other former child stars have either faded from the spotlight or fallen to the wayside entirely. Chris Malone Méndez, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025 As soon as daylight saving time hits, like clockwork, my once borderline obsessive need to have perfectly pristine floors, windows, walls, and closets is thrown to the wayside. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 12 July 2025 One less obvious but important role weather service staffers played that risked falling to the wayside was educating members of the public on how to respond to extreme weather, said Hatim Sharif, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for wayside

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wayside was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Wayside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wayside. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

wayside

noun
way·​side ˈwā-ˌsīd How to pronounce wayside (audio)
: the side or border of a road or path
wayside adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on wayside

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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