sidle

verb

si·​dle ˈsī-dᵊl How to pronounce sidle (audio)
sidled; sidling ˈsī-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce sidle (audio)
ˈsīd-liŋ

intransitive verb

: to go or move with one side foremost especially in a furtive advance

transitive verb

: to cause to move or turn sideways
sidle noun

Examples of sidle in a Sentence

He sidled up to me and slipped me a note. She sidled over and whispered, “Do you see that guy?”. She sidled through the narrow opening.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Haley quietly sidles up to it, gently placing a net over the bird. NPR, 17 Oct. 2025 The drop was vertiginous and terrifying, but Young sidled right up to the edge. Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 Just then a figure stepped out of the shadows, or sidled, rather, a low, ruffianly type clad in a shabby, dark-green coat and leather gaiters. Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025 At the Giorgio Armani show during Paris Fashion Week in 2019, the pair suited up and sidled up for a romantic night. Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sidle

Word History

Etymology

probably back-formation from sideling entry 2

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of sidle was in 1577

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sidle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sidle. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sidle

verb
si·​dle ˈsīd-ᵊl How to pronounce sidle (audio)
sidled; sidling ˈsīd-liŋ How to pronounce sidle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to go or move with one side forward
the waiter sidled around the end of the counter

More from Merriam-Webster on sidle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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