# wayside

/ˈweɪˌsaɪd/ (US) · /wˈeɪsaɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wayside
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a place by the side of a road or path. It is often used to describe a quiet spot where you can stop and rest.

For teachers: a location by the side of a road or path. Often used in the phrase 'by the wayside' to describe something being left behind or neglected.

## Examples

- We stopped by the wayside to rest and eat.
- The traveler found a small wayside chapel where he could pray before continuing his journey across the mountains.
- As the modern highway bypassed the village, the old wayside inns fell into disrepair, their once-bustling courtyards now overgrown with ivy and silence.

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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.