sideways

[ sahyd-weyz ]

adverb

1. with a side foremost.
2. facing to the side.
3. toward or from one side.
4. with a deceitful, scornful, disparaging, or amorous glance.

adjective

1. moving, facing, or directed toward one side.
2. indirect or evasive.

sideways

/ ˈsaɪdˌweɪz /

adverb

1. moving, facing, or inclining towards one side
2. from one side; obliquely
3. with one side forward

adjective

1. moving or directed to or from one side
2. towards or from one side

Word History and Origins

Origin of sideways¹

First recorded in 1570–80; side ¹ + -ways

Idioms and Phrases

see knock for a loop (sideways) ; look sideways at .

Example Sentences

Keep the blade at a low angle, and avoid tipping the blade sideways, which could cause a corner of the metal to dig in and scratch the glass.

From Washington Post

Though stocks of late have traded rather sideways, December is typically a strong month for investors, and some strategists see reason to believe stocks might close out the year on a high note.

From Fortune

It persists because his allies on Capitol Hill don’t want to get sideways with his loyal base of support.

From Washington Post

The SN8 rose for about five minutes, then cut off its engines and tipped sideways, presenting its undercarriage to the ground.

From Popular-Science

Federal officials also hope the event will lift a nation knocked sideways by the coronavirus pandemic and a historically divisive presidential election.

From Washington Post

I push down on the pedal with my right leg and instead of propelling myself forward, I topple over sideways.

From The Daily Beast

When you hit a throttle on a sprint car, the car sets sideways.

From The Daily Beast

And he waltzed around the question of Arambula going sideways.

From The Daily Beast

She looks sideways as the monster speaker booms and trembles and young men dance toward her.

From The Daily Beast

Kuching means ‘Cat City’ in Malay; nobody will look sideways at those who hug street strays or shriek ‘pusspusspuss!’

From The Daily Beast

Mrs. Ducksmith, deadly white, swayed sideways, and Aristide caught her in his arms and dragged her to the stone bench.

From Project Gutenberg

She was so in earnest that she forgot the canoe, and the wind caught it sideways and made us roll dangerously.

From Project Gutenberg

The sweat of death was already on his brow as he reeled sideways, plunging blindly across the uneven tufts of grass.

From Project Gutenberg

The cushions supported her arm as she lay sideways—listening, and keeping perfectly still.

From Project Gutenberg

The horse, frightened by the motor-cycle, was bucking and leaping sideways at the roadside.

From Project Gutenberg