View synonyms for

sideline

[ sahyd-lahyn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a line at the side of something.
a business or activity pursued in addition to one's primary business; a second occupation.
an additional or auxiliary line of goods:
a grocery store with a sideline of household furnishings.
Sports.
1. either of the two lines defining the side boundaries of a field or court.
2. sidelines, the area immediately beyond either sideline, where the substitute players sit.
sidelines, the position or point of view taken by a person who observes an activity or situation but does not directly participate in it.

verb (used with object)

sidelined, sidelining.

to render incapable of participation, especially in anything involving vigorous, physical action, as a sport:
An injury to his throwing arm sidelined the quarterback for two weeks.

sideline

/ ˈ��ɪ��ˌ��ɪ�� /

noun

sport a line that marks the side boundary of a playing area
a subsidiary interest or source of income
an auxiliary business activity or line of merchandise

verb

to prevent (a player) from taking part in a game
to prevent (a person) from pursuing a particular activity, operation, career, etc

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Word History and Origins

Origin of sideline¹

An Americanism dating back to 1685–95; side ¹ + line ¹

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But those are the whitewashed versions — Hollywood’s curated fantasy that sidelines the truth.

From

And he set both of those high marks last year — when a late-season elbow injury still sidelined him for all of the playoffs.

From

The Lakers trailed by as many as 27 points, their performance at Crypto.com Arena so shameful that even one of the worst coaches in franchise history felt emboldened enough to criticize their current sideline leader.

From

The frontman proved expressive and animated despite serious hearing issues that sidelined him for a few scary years, and a voice that, understandably, doesn’t always have the sustain and power of earlier days.

From

Additional spectators watched along the sidelines in hopes of glimpsing the series’ stars.

From

sidelight sideliner

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