aside
gb/əsˈaɪd/ us/əsˈaɪd/
A2
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
relation
1
to one side, out of the way
To move to the side or away from the main place.
Usage pattern:
to move [something/someone] aside
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'aside' with 'beside'. 'Aside' means away from the main place; 'beside' means next to something.
Synonyms
aside (Exact match in this sense; interchangeable with 'to the side'.)
|
sideways (Similar but emphasizes direction rather than position away from main area.)
Antonyms
center (Opposite direction — toward the middle instead of to the side.)
Collocations
set aside
|push aside
|move aside
|step aside
Themes
movement
|space
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She pushed the papers aside to make room for her laptop.
- Please step aside so the ambulance can pass.
- He moved the chair aside to open the door more easily.
Learner examples
- She moved the box aside.
- Please step aside for the car.
- He put his bag aside.
adverb
B1
relation
2
away from main topic
Used when talking about something different from the main subject.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'aside' here with 'besides', which means 'in addition to'.
Synonyms
separately (Focuses on treating something as not part of the main matter.)
Antonyms
centrally (Focuses on keeping to the main topic or core point.)
Collocations
joke aside
|all else aside
|politics aside
Themes
communication
|thinking
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Jokes aside, we need to focus on the problem.
- All personal feelings aside, she is the best candidate for the job.
- Politics aside, this policy has clear benefits.
Learner examples
- Jokes aside, we must work now.
- Money aside, this is a good idea.
- Feelings aside, she is right.
Noun
B2
entity
3
short remark to audience
In a play, a short comment to the audience that other characters do not hear.
Synonyms
monologue (Longer speech; not necessarily unheard by other characters.)
Collocations
comic aside
|dramatic aside
Themes
theater
|storytelling
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The actor delivered an amusing aside before exiting the stage.
- In Shakespeare's plays, asides reveal a character's true thoughts.
- She added a quick aside to explain her plan to the audience.
Learner examples
- The actor made an aside to the people watching.
- In the play, he told an aside about his plan.
- She spoke an aside that only we could hear.
Noun
B2
entity
4
brief comment off-topic
A short comment that is not about the main topic.
Synonyms
digression (Usually longer and more developed than a brief aside.)
Collocations
casual aside
|humorous aside
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He made a witty aside about the weather before continuing his speech.
- Her speech was full of personal asides unrelated to the topic.
- During the meeting, he added an aside about his weekend trip.
Learner examples
- He made an aside about the rain.
- She said an aside before talking again about work.
- I heard his funny aside during class.
Grammar
Expressions
put aside
1/pˈʊt əsˈaɪd/
phrasal verb
save for future use
To keep something, especially money or time, to use later.
Examples
- She puts aside $50 each month for emergencies.
- Let's put our differences aside and work together.
step aside
1/stˈɛp əsˈaɪd/
phrasal verb
move away or resign position
To move so someone can pass, or leave your job so someone else can take it.
Examples
- Please step aside so she can get through.
- The CEO decided to step aside after 20 years.
set aside
1/sˈɛt əsˈaɪd/
phrasal verb
reserve for later use
To keep something for later use or special reason.
Examples
- She set aside some money for her vacation.
- The court set aside the previous decision.
- Please set aside those papers; I’ll look at them later.
- Please set some cake aside for John.