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 appellate judges, sidetracked by the AI issue, never touched on that.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

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

“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