aside

The word “aside” means to one side, or out of the way. In plain terms, either moved out of the way, or a quick side remark that isn't part of the main conversation.

“Aside” is pronounced uh-SYD (/əˈsaɪd/ in IPA).

Here is “aside” used in a sentence: “She stepped aside to let the paramedics through.”

Words with a similar meaning to “aside” include sidebar and side note.

Depending on how it is used, “aside” can be an adverb and a noun.

The word “aside” comes from Old English. From Old English "on sīdan," literally "on the side of" — the same root as beside.

“Aside” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Aside” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to one side, or out of the way.

'Aside' means to one side or out of the way — 'step aside', 'set your fears aside'. 'Beside' means next to or at the side of something — 'sit beside me'. Though both involve a 'side', aside is about moving something away, while beside is about position next to another thing.

You might step aside to let someone pass, move a chair aside to clear space, or put money aside for later. In each case something is shifted to one side or kept out of the way. The phrase 'joking aside' means setting humour to one side to be serious.

In theatre, an 'aside' is a short remark a character speaks directly to the audience, or to one other character, that the others on stage are meant not to hear. It reveals private thoughts or comments on the action, and the term comes from the idea of speaking off to one side.