sideways

adverb or adjective

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side·ways | \ ˈsīd-ˌwāz

Definition of sideways

1 : from one side

2 : with one side forward turn sideways

3a : in a lateral direction or downward to one side hopped sideways slump sideways

b : askance look sideways at someone

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about sideways

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Examples of sideways in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If nothing else, the sideways-shooting victory over Houston served the Spurs an object lesson in simply hanging in there. — Jeff Mcdonald, ExpressNews.com, "Spurs staying patient in midst of 3-point cold spell," 17 Jan. 2021 But when his new employer found out Buchanan had worked for the Trump campaign, things allegedly went sideways fast. — Doug Mckelway, Washington Examiner, "Dumped over Trump: Man claims working on president’s campaign cost him dream job," 13 Jan. 2021 There is a simple, if reductive, answer that might apply to anyone whose mind is going sideways. — Nicholas Thompson, Wired, "The Unsettling Truth About the ‘Mostly Harmless’ Hiker," 12 Jan. 2021 Not long after Kenin’s triumph in Australia, tennis went sideways like everything else, shutting down its calendar, including a full cancellation of Wimbledon. — Wsj Sports Staff, WSJ, "The Sports Feats That Defied Covid," 28 Dec. 2020 Even in a world gone sideways, some topics are eternal, our fascination with celebrity chief among them. — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, "Vogue Runway’s Most-Read Stories of 2020," 18 Dec. 2020 Though stocks of late have traded rather sideways, December is typically a strong month for investors, and some strategists see reason to believe stocks might close out the year on a high note. — Anne Sraders, Fortune, "‘Santa Claus’ rally could take stocks higher, even after an ‘unbelievable’ year," 17 Dec. 2020 In one, a car slid off the road, crashed over the curb and landscaping, and stopped on flattened tires sideways in the building’s parking lot. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Traffic controls sought for fatal curve in Carlsbad," 12 Dec. 2020 The individual florets are tiny, but a few dozen make up a 1½- to 2-inch cluster that will simply knock you sideways. — Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, "Mystery plants for the first week of December," 8 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sideways.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

22 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Sideways.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideways. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for sideways

sideways

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of sideways

: with one side facing forward

: to or toward the right or left side

See the full definition for sideways in the English Language Learners Dictionary

sideways

adverb or adjective

side·ways | \ ˈsīd-ˌwāz

Kids Definition of sideways

1 : from one side I looked at it sideways.

2 : with one side forward a sideways position He turned sideways to let me by.

3 : to one side a sideways move The statue fell sideways.

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sideways

Definition of sideways

Synonyms for sideways

Examples of sideways in a Sentence

First Known Use of sideways

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Dictionary Entries near sideways

Statistics for sideways

English Language Learners Definition of sideways