Synonyms

sidetracked

American

[sahyd-trakt] / ˈsaɪdˌtrækt /

adjective

distracted from the main subject, task, course, etc..

Sorry for not replying sooner—I’m an easily sidetracked guy with poor time management.
(of a train) moved from the main track to a siding, where it stops temporarily.

Rail officials agreed to move a sidetracked train after local residents complained of the noise, fumes, and vibrations.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of sidetrack.

Etymology

Origin of sidetracked

First recorded in 1880–85; sidetrack ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; sidetrack ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

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.

The U.S. economy got sidetracked in February by tariff-related price increases, sluggish sales and the previous month’s Winter Storm Fern, but top executives were also more optimistic that business will improve later in the year.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026

Ellis says this narrative plays out in the film - Folarin works so much that he becomes "neglectful and sidetracked".

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

This, of course, means he can also get easily sidetracked, but it’s “one of the beauties of making music on your own.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025

It’s a shame he got sidetracked into action-hero franchises.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

I let the sass slide because I was making a point and didn’t want to get sidetracked.

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023