sideline

1 of 2

noun

side·​line ˈsīd-ˌlīn How to pronounce sideline (audio)
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

sideline

2 of 2

verb

sidelined; sidelining; sidelines

transitive verb

: to put out of action : put on the sidelines

Examples of sideline in a Sentence

Noun She makes and sells jewelry as a sideline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Jeanty limped to the sideline after scoring a rushing touchdown in the first half. Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 21 Apr. 2024 Using its brawn, plus a few unforced SMC errors and turnovers that had O’Brien fuming under the trees on the Gael sideline, the Cougars rolled off 17 straight points of their own. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024 Ward threw one touchdown, among several completions to Restrepo, down the left sideline in the first half. Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024 Another shot shows Brooks Koepka holding his son, Crew, 11 months, on the ninth green, while wife Jena Sims laughs on the sidelines. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024 His flow was disrupted by long stints on the sideline. Aaron Heisen, Orange County Register, 5 Apr. 2024 His value behind the scenes hasn’t gone unnoticed, particularly from the man roaming the Hornets’ sidelines. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2024 Under the new system, a sideline doctor uses an iPad with Prevent’s app to monitor head impacts. Jeffrey Tomik, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024 Dressed in her best Western wear, Hadid cheered from the sidelines while Banuelos competed and won in the Arlington, Texas, event. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Verb
In 1975, to Reasoner’s satisfaction, Smith had been sidelined to be a commentator. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024 After the game, LeBron James complained about an illness that would sideline him Sunday against Minnesota. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024 He was sidelined with injuries during the 1959 championship run, but went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters and for semiprofessional teams. Sopan Deb, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024 Householder won, thanks to Democrats, and Kelly was sidelined. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024 An unbiased but courageous perspective from a woman who has been unduly sidelined goes a long way in shaping the conversation and inspiring other women who have suffered the same or a similar fate. Abiola Salami, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 Schoomaker suffered a shoulder injury training last week and was also forced to undergo surgery that will keep him sidelined until the start of training camp in August. Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024 With Marcos Alonso also often sidelined with his own knocks, the development has seen Xavi have to deploy right back Joao Cancelo on the opposite flank. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 The Gardner-Webb alum started six games for Oakland before an elbow injury sidelined Miller from May 7 until September. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sideline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sideline was circa 1862

Dictionary Entries Near sideline

Cite this Entry

“Sideline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideline. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

sideline

noun
side·​line
-ˌlīn
1
: a line marking the side of a playing field or court
2
: a business or job done in addition to one's regular occupation

More from Merriam-Webster on sideline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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