adverb
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moving, facing, or inclining towards one side
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from one side; obliquely
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with one side forward
adjective
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moving or directed to or from one side
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towards or from one side
Etymology
Origin of sideways
Explanation
When something occurs on or in the direction of one side, it happens sideways. You can lean over sideways to see if your cat's hiding under the bed, or tip a teapot sideways to pour the last drops out. Sideways works as an adjective or adverb to describe things that lean toward one side or at an angle. A sideways tilt to a motorcycle might look scary, but it's safe if the rider is experienced. You can also use this word figuratively for "indirect" or "unconventional." So you might describe a movie that approaches serious subjects from a sideways perspective, using comedy. Sideways dates from the mid-16th century.
Vocabulary lists containing sideways
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He looked sideways at CEOs’ request for industry regulation, saying that the move might be a “Trojan Horse” masking their true intentions.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
The analyst also expects oil prices to return to wide sideways trading if the U.S. signals potential negotiations with Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
The size of the sideways shift depends only on the wavelength of the light and not on how tightly the laser beam is focused.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
The U.S. oil benchmark has been making small dips, then moving sideways briefly before rising again.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
Oliver gave me this curious, sideways gaze for a minute, like he was waiting to see if I’d keep the conversation going.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
