Definition

1. Adverb:

   • To or on one side; out of the way: Moving or being positioned to the side.
   • In reserve; for future use: Kept separately for a later purpose.
   • Apart from a main subject or issue: Not being considered or included.
   • Away from one's thoughts or consideration: Dismissed or ignored mentally.

2. Noun:

   • A remark or passage in a play intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters on stage: A theatrical device.
   • A remark not directly related to the main topic: A digression.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • He stepped aside to let the ambulance pass.
  • She sets money aside every month for her vacation.
  • All personal feelings aside, we must focus on the facts.
  • She brushed his objections aside and continued with the plan.

• Noun:

  • The actor delivered a witty aside to the audience.
  • His speech was full of interesting asides about his travels.

Advanced Usage

• "aside from" (also "apart from"): With the exception of; besides.
  • Aside from a few typos, the report is excellent.
• "to set aside": To reserve for a special purpose; to annul or overrule (a legal decision).
  • The judge set aside the previous verdict.
• "to stand aside": To move out of the way; to choose not to participate or intervene.
  • He decided to stand aside and let others take the lead.

Variants and Related Words

• Set-aside (n): Something, especially money or land, reserved for a particular purpose.
  • The government announced a new research set-aside.
• Aside is also used as a stage direction in scripts to indicate an actor speaks a line not heard by others on stage.

Synonyms

• Apart: Separated by a distance or in position.
• Away: At a distance from a particular place or person.
• Separately: As a separate entity; not together.
• Digression (n): A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.

Related Phrases

• Joking aside / All joking aside: Used to indicate you are now being serious after making jokes.
  • All joking aside, we need to discuss this problem seriously.
• To take/draw someone aside: To lead someone away from a group to talk privately.
  • The manager took her aside to give her some feedback.

Idioms

• To brush/push/sweep something aside: To dismiss something as unimportant.
  • He brushed aside all the warnings and proceeded anyway.
• To lay aside: To stop doing or thinking about something; to save money.
  • They agreed to lay aside their differences and work together.

Adverb

1. in reserve; not for immediate use
   • started setting aside money to buy a car
   • put something by for her old age
   • has a nest egg tucked away for a rainy day
2. placed or kept separate and distinct as for a purpose
   • had a feeling of being set apart
   • quality sets it apart
   • a day set aside for relaxing
3. in a different direction
   • turn aside
   • turn away one's face
   • glanced away
4. not taken into account or excluded from consideration
   • these problems apart, the country is doing well
   • all joking aside, I think you're crazy
5. out of the way (especially away from one's thoughts)
   • brush the objections aside
   • pushed all doubts away
6. on or to one side
   • step aside
   • stood aside to let him pass
   • threw the book aside
   • put her sewing aside when he entered

Noun

1. a message that departs from the main subject
2. a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage