aside
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adv.to or on one side so that something is out of the way.
adv.to one side or away from a central position, typically to clear a path or create space.
Simple“She stepped aside to let the doctor pass through the crowded hallway.”
In context“The protesters moved aside as the motorcade approached, though they continued to chant their slogans from the pavement.”
UsageOften follows a verb of motion like 'step', 'move', or 'push'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adv.not including something or keeping it separate from your main thoughts.
adv.used to indicate that a particular factor is being excluded from consideration or kept separate for later use.
Simple“Joking aside, we really need to finish this project by five o'clock.”
In context“Setting aside the obvious financial risks, the board felt that the potential for long-term growth justified the investment.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'setting aside' or after a noun as in 'all jokes aside'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a short comment an actor makes to the audience that the other characters cannot hear.
n.a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience, intended to be unheard by other characters on stage.
Simple“The villain turned to the audience and made a quick aside about his evil plan.”
In context“Shakespeare frequently employs the aside to allow characters like Iago to reveal their true motives to the audience while maintaining a facade before their peers.”
Synonymsmonologuesoliloquy - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a small comment that is not part of the main subject.
n.a remark or story that is not part of the main subject of a conversation or piece of writing.
Simple“The teacher made a brief aside about his own school days before returning to the history lesson.”
In context“The author's frequent asides regarding the political climate of the era provide valuable context, even if they occasionally disrupt the narrative flow.”
Synonyms
“The Egyptian president’s office said that aside from Gaza, the two discussed Egypt-US relations.”
“For large periods of the past almost 20 years I’ve been alone (dogs aside) in a room with my thoughts and my research and keyboard for eight or 10 hours a day.”
From Middle English aside, asyde, a-side, oside, from Middle English on side, from Old English on sīdan (literally “on (the) side (of)”), equivalent to a- + side. Compare beside.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.