Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

edgewise

adverb edge·wise \ ˈej-ˌwīz \

Definition of edgewise

1 : sideways
2 : as if by an edge : barely —usually used in the phrase get a word in edgewise

See edgewise defined for English-language learners

See edgewise defined for kids

Examples of edgewise in a Sentence

  1. you can squeeze through the narrow passage between the two caves if you go edgewise

First Known Use of edgewise

1677

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

edgewise Synonyms

Synonyms

broadside, crabwise, sideways, sidewise;

Near Antonyms

direct, right, straight;

Related Words

aslant, indirectly, obliquely;

laterally, sideward (or sidewards);

EDGEWISE Defined for Kids

edgewise

adverb edge·wise \ ˈej-ˌwīz \

Definition of edgewise for Students

: sideways 2

Learn More about edgewise

  1. See words that rhyme with edgewise Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for edgewise Spanish Central: Translation of edgewise Nglish: Translation of edgewise for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up edgewise? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

paste

play

to beat or defeat soundly

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. ideologue 'an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology'

  2. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  3. uphold 'to let stand'

  4. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

  5. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

edgewise

Test Your Vocabulary

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

  • test-your-emoji-exceptionalism-written-with-a-lot-of-emoji
  • What is this emoji intended to represent: 🤳
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games