sidetracked
Americanadjective
-
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
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
It’s a shame he got sidetracked into action-hero franchises.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025
While talking to Schwartz, it’s hard not to get sidetracked.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2024
“I wanted to ask you something, but you sidetracked me,” he chuckled.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
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.
