sideline

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈsaɪˌdlaɪn/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A line forming the side boundary of a field or court of play in sports.; An activity or occupation pursued in addition to one's primary job or business; a secondary source of income.; A position or role of being an observer rather than an active participant; the periphery of an activity.; A secondary or auxiliary line of merchandise or products carried by a business in addition to its main line.
  2. verb
    To remove someone from active participation, especially due to injury or other reasons; to force someone to the sidelines.; To engage in as a secondary activity or business.; To set aside or disregard; to ignore or marginalize.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: sidelines 3rd sing.: sidelines Past: sidelined Past part.: sidelined Pres part.: sidelining

Collocations

on the sidelineswatch from the sidelinessideline businesssideline activityput on the sidelinessideline career

Derivatives

sideliner

Synonyms

benchmarginalizeexcludeavocationside hustlehobby

Antonyms

includeengageinvolve

Commonly confused

sidestep
EN: 'Sidestep' means to avoid or dodge something, while 'sideline' means to remove someone from participation or refers to a secondary activity.
side line
EN: 'Sideline' is always written as one word; 'side line' as two words is nonstandard.

Spelling tips

EN: Always written as one word ('sideline'), never as two words ('side line'). Do not confuse with 'sidelong' (meaning indirect or glancing).

💬 Examples

  1. The ball crossed the sideline and went out of bounds.

  2. She runs a small catering business as a sideline to her teaching career.

  3. He was forced to watch from the sidelines after his injury.

  4. The hardware store also sells gardening supplies as a sideline.

  5. A knee injury sidelined the quarterback for the rest of the season.

  6. He sidelines as a freelance photographer on weekends.

  7. The committee sidelined the proposal in favor of more urgent matters.