noun A2 Elementary Uncommon

aisle

Aisle (noun) means a long, narrow passage between rows of seats, shelves, or pews. Example: “He walked down the aisle to find his seat before the film started.”

noun

A long, narrow passage between rows of seats, shelves, or pews.

"He walked down the aisle to find his seat before the film started."

"She grabbed a jar of pasta sauce from aisle six."

The path a bride walks down during a wedding ceremony, and by extension, marriage itself.

"They're finally walking down the aisle this summer."

How to Use Aisle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA walkway between rows — in a plane, church, supermarket, or theater — or, in weddings, the path the bride walks.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "isle" (a small island) or "I'll" — all three sound alike but mean completely different things.

Easily confused with

isle → i'll →

Common pairings

aisle seat walk down the aisle grocery aisle

Word Forms

aisles plural

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He walked down the _____ to find his seat before the film started.

Etymology

From Middle English ele, borrowed from Anglo-Norman ele ("wing"), ultimately from Latin āla. The modern spelling and pronunciation were reshaped later under the influence of the unrelated word "isle."

Origin: Latin

Antonyms

window window seat

Related Words

chance opportunity window gap

Rhymes for aisle

isle Carlisle

See all rhymes for aisle →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “aisle” mean?

The word “aisle” means a long, narrow passage between rows of seats, shelves, or pews. In plain terms, a walkway between rows — in a plane, church, supermarket, or theater — or, in weddings, the path the bride walks.

How do you pronounce “aisle”?

“Aisle” is pronounced yl (/aɪ̯l/ in IPA).

How do you use “aisle” in a sentence?

Here is “aisle” used in a sentence: “He walked down the aisle to find his seat before the film started.”

What is the opposite of “aisle”?

The opposite of “aisle” — its antonyms — are window and window seat.

What part of speech is “aisle”?

“Aisle” is a noun.

Where does the word “aisle” come from?

The word “aisle” comes from Latin. From Middle English ele, borrowed from Anglo-Norman ele ("wing"), ultimately from Latin āla. The modern spelling and pronunciation were reshaped later under the influence of the unrelated word "isle.".

Is “aisle” a common word?

“Aisle” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “aisle” have?

“Aisle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, narrow passage between rows of seats, shelves, or pews.

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