side

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈsīd 

1

a

: the right or left part of the wall or trunk of the body

a pain in the side

b(1)

: one of the halves of the animal body on either side of the median plane

(2)

: a cut of meat including that about the ribs of one half of the body

—used chiefly of smoked pork products

c

: one longitudinal half of a hide

2

: a place, space, or direction with respect to a center or to a line of division (as of an aisle, river, or street)

3

a

: one of the longer bounding surfaces or lines of an object especially contrasted with the ends

the side of a barn

b

: a line or surface forming a border or face of an object

a die has six sides

the back side of the moon

c

: either surface of a thin object

one side of a record

right side of the cloth

d

: a bounding line of a geometric figure

side of a triangle

4

a

: the space beside one

stood by my side

b

: an area next to something

—usually used in combination

a poolside interview

5

: a slope (as of a hill) considered as opposed to another slope

the far side of the hill

6

a

: the attitude or activity of one person or group with respect to another : part

there was no malice on my side

b

: a position that is opposite to or contrasted with another

two sides to every question

came down on the side of law and order

c

: a body of partisans or contestants

victory for neither side

d

: team sense 1a

11 players on each side

also : the players on a baseball team batting in an inning

struck out the side

7

: a line of descent traced through one's parent

grandfather on his mother's side

8

: an aspect or part of something contrasted with some other real or implied aspect or part

the better side of his nature

the sales side of the business

the seasoning is a bit on the heavy side

9

British : sideways spin imparted to a billiard or snooker ball

10

: a sheet containing the lines and cues for a single theatrical role

11

: a recording of music

12

: a side order or dish

a side of fries

side

2 of 4

adjective

1

a

: situated on the side

side window

b

: of or relating to the side

2

a

: directed toward or from the side

side thrust

side wind

b

: incidental, indirect

side issue

side remark

c

: made on the side

side payment

d

: additional to the main portion

a side order of french fries

side

3 of 4

verb

sided; siding

transitive verb

1

: to agree with : support

2

: to be side by side with

3

: to set or put aside : clear away

side the dishes

4

: to furnish with sides or siding

side a house

intransitive verb

: to take sides : join or form sides

sided with the rebels

side

4 of 4

noun (2)

chiefly British

: swaggering or arrogant manner : pretentiousness

Phrases

on the side

1

: in addition to the main portion

2

: in addition to a principal occupation

3

: secretly outside of one's marriage or romantic relationship

seeing another woman on the side

this side of

: short of : almost

an attitude just this side of scandalous

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• flank
• top
• underside
• outside

Adjective

• lateral
• left

Examples of side in a Sentence

Noun (1)

will everyone who wants to sign up for volleyball please stand off to this side of the gym?

examined the problem from all sides

our side won, and the club will have a holiday party after all

Adjective

a front and side view of the car

The jacket has side pockets.

Please use the side door.

A side benefit of the drug is that it helps patients relax.

She took on a side project during the summer.

I had a burger with a side order of fries.

I'll have rice as a side dish.

Verb

They just sided their house.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Increase understanding of financial tools, including Roth IRAs, compound interest, contributions to retirement as a side job, and employer match programs. —Alejandra Rojas, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025

The dual-chamber dirty/clean cube has a shocking 15-liter capacity and the dirty side seals off. —Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 5 July 2025

Adjective

His children also applauded, and Combs embraced his lawyers before being escorted out of a side door by security officials. —Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2025

The men were just side characters — sort of like the Gilmores’ guys. —Lindsay MacMillan, People.com, 1 July 2025

Verb

Arrange pineapple slices, mango (flesh side up), pepper (with skin facing up) and onion on a baking pan. —Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 5 July 2025

Far from being swayed by political theater, shareholders sided decisively with the evidence. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English sīde; akin to Old High German sīta side, Old English sīd ample, wide

Noun (2)

obsolete English side proud, boastful

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1585, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1870, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing side

• a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side
• back side
• blind side
• come down on the side of
• demand-side
• driver's side
• err on the side of
• err on the side of caution
• far side
• flip side
• (from) side to side
• get on his bad side
• get on the wrong side of
• get out of bed on the wrong side
• get up on the wrong side of the bed
• gospel side
• history is on someone's side
• initial side
• keep one's side of the bargain
• keep/stay on her boss's good side
• kept one's side of the bargain/deal
• know which side one's bread is buttered on
• laugh on the other side of one's face
• leave someone's side
• let the side down
• look on the bright side
• no side to
• on someone's good/bad side
• on someone's side
• on the bright side
• on the credit side
• on the debit side
• on the far side of
• on the flip side
• on the minus side
• on the plus side
• on the right side of (an age)
• on the right side of the law
• on the right/wrong side of (someone)
• on the wrong side of (an age)
• on the wrong side of the law
• prompt side
• retire the side
• right side out
• right side up
• side against
• side bearing
• side by side
• side chain
• side chair
• side dish
• side dress
• side dressing
• side drum
• side effect
• side eye
• side-glance
• side horse
• side hustle
• side order
• side-out
• side road
• side-scan sonar
• side step
• side street
• side table
• side-view mirror
• side-wheel
• side-whiskers
• side with
• stand at/by someone's side
• strong side
• sunny-side up
• supply-side
• supply-side economics
• take someone's side
• take the side of (someone)
• terminal side
• the grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence)
• the other/opposite/flip side of the coin
• time is not on someone's side
• time is on one's side
• to one side
• to the side
• weak side
• Whose side are you on
• wrong side of the tracks
• wrong side out
• wrong side up

Rhymes for side

• bide
• bride
• chide
• cried
• died
• dried
• dyed
• eid
• eide
• eyed
• flied
• fried

Kids Definition

side

1 of 3 noun

ˈsīd 

1

a

: the right or left part of the trunk of the body

a pain in the side

stood at her side

b

: the entire right or left half of the animal body

a side of beef

2

: a place, space, or direction away from or beyond a central point or line

set it to one side

3

: a surface or line forming a border or face of an object

a cube has six sides

4

: an outer part of a thing considered as facing in a certain direction

the back side of the moon

5

a

: a straight-line segment forming part of the boundary of a geometric figure

side of a square

b

: one of the longer surfaces that form the boundary of a solid

lay the book on its side

c

: either surface of a thin object

one side of a record

6

: a position or part of something viewed as opposite or different from another

my side of the story

try to look on the good side

never saw this side of his personality

7

: a body of contestants

our side won

8

: a line of ancestors traced back from either parent

a grandfather on his mother's side

9

: a side dish ordered separately

a side of fries

side

2 of 3 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or located on the side

side window

2

: going toward or coming from the side

side wind

3

: being in addition to something more important : incidental

a side issue

side

3 of 3 verb

sided; siding

1

: to take the same side

sided with our friend in the argument

2

: to put siding on

side a house

Medical Definition

side

noun

ˈsīd 

1

: the right or left part of the wall or trunk of the body

a pain in the side

2

: one of the halves of the animal body on either side of the midsagittal plane

3

: a lateral half or part of an organ or structure

burned on the right side of one leg