# aside

/əˈsaɪd/ (US) · /ɐsˈaɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aside
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to one side

adverb · CEFR B1

to or on one side so that something is out of the way.

For teachers: to one side or away from a central position, typically to clear a path or create space.

- She stepped aside to let the doctor pass through the crowded hallway.
- The protesters moved aside as the motorcade approached, though they continued to chant their slogans from the pavement.

Usage: Often follows a verb of motion like 'step', 'move', or 'push'.

### 2. excluding something

adverb · CEFR B2

not including something or keeping it separate from your main thoughts.

For teachers: used to indicate that a particular factor is being excluded from consideration or kept separate for later use.

- Joking aside, we really need to finish this project by five o'clock.
- Setting aside the obvious financial risks, the board felt that the potential for long-term growth justified the investment.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'setting aside' or after a noun as in 'all jokes aside'.

### 3. theatre/drama

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short comment an actor makes to the audience that the other characters cannot hear.

For teachers: a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience, intended to be unheard by other characters on stage.

- The villain turned to the audience and made a quick aside about his evil plan.
- 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.

### 4. a side remark

noun · CEFR B2

a small comment that is not part of the main subject.

For teachers: a remark or story that is not part of the main subject of a conversation or piece of writing.

- The teacher made a brief aside about his own school days before returning to the history lesson.
- The author's frequent asides regarding the political climate of the era provide valuable context, even if they occasionally disrupt the narrative flow.

## Examples

- The actor turns to the audience to make a funny aside.
- During the intense dinner scene, the protagonist shares a sarcastic aside that reveals his true feelings about the guests.
- The author frequently interrupts the narrative with a witty aside, providing historical context that enriches the reader's understanding of the setting without stalling the plot's momentum.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.