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 two started an exchange about their respective career paths, but Danielle got sidetracked and left Drew hanging.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 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
"My ambition was not to be a music photographer, my ambition was to be a war photographer - but I got a sidetracked in a great way," he says.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2025
And while he’s searching for a show in his questions, sometimes he gets sidetracked with sparks of genuine interest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2024
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
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
