1
: a line at right angles to a goal line or end line and marking a side of a court or field of play for athletic games
2
a
: a line of goods sold in addition to one's principal line
b
: a business or activity pursued in addition to one's regular occupation
3
a
: the space immediately outside the lines along either side of an athletic field or court
b
: a sphere of little or no participation or activity
—usually used in plural
Examples of sideline in a Sentence
Noun
She makes and sells jewelry as a sideline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Saw some really dear friends on the Jets sideline, Bobby Mastrodi, security guard, so great to see.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
Peter Baugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Miami dialed back the team’s spending with the exception of offensive guard James Daniels, who spent all of three snaps on the field before suffering a peck injury that will keep him sidelined till maybe midseason.
—Omar Kelly
updated October 6, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sideline
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Noun
After the Dolphins reclaimed the lead at 24-20 on a Jaylen Waddle touchdown catch, Dowdle started the ensuing drive with a 16-yard gain but then limped to the sideline with cramps in both calves.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Saw some really dear friends on the Jets sideline, Bobby Mastrodi, security guard, so great to see.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
Teams played best-of-three series in the NCAA tournament back then, and Sullivan was nursing a bad ankle that sidelined him for the first game, a BU loss.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Miami dialed back the team’s spending with the exception of offensive guard James Daniels, who spent all of three snaps on the field before suffering a peck injury that will keep him sidelined till maybe midseason.
—Omar Kelly
updated October 6, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sideline
Cite this Entry
“Sideline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideline. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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