sidestep

1 of 2

verb

side·​step ˈsīd-ˌstep 

sidestepped; sidestepping; sidesteps

transitive verb

1

: bypass, evade

sidestep a question

2

: to move out of the way of : avoid

sidestep a blow

intransitive verb

1

: to take a side step

2

: to avoid an issue or decision

sidestepper noun

side step

2 of 2

noun

1

: a step aside (as in boxing to avoid a blow)

2

: a step taken sideways (as when climbing on skis)

Synonyms of sidestep

Verb

• circumvent
• avoid
• evade
• bypass

Examples of sidestep in a Sentence

Verb

She sidestepped the reporter's question.

They're sidestepping the real issue.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The old guard has lost control, and maybe vision, and the result is more candidates willing to sidestep seniority and a wait-your-turn mentality to try their luck — especially younger progressives. —Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

As noted by Cooke, the STS-51 space shuttle Discovery mission was delayed in 1993 to avoid the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, and an uncrewed science mission out of Vandenberg Space Force Base was delayed in 2000 to sidestep a Leonid meteor shower outburst. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 7 June 2026

Noun

This resistance band exercise is a modification of lunges and side steps to build strength in the muscles supporting your knees, ideally without triggering any existing knee pain. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 8 June 2026

The driver’s- and passenger-side step-ups are permanent. —James Raia, Mercury News, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sidestep

• multistep
• overstep
• bicep
• doorstep
• footstep
• instep
• misstep
• cep
• hep
• pep
• prep
• rep

Kids Definition

sidestep

verb

side·​step -ˌstep 

1

: to take a step to the side

2

: to avoid by a step to the side

sidestep a blow

3

: to avoid answering or dealing with

sidestep a question