English · Word Candidate

sideways

/ˈsaɪdweɪz/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Moving or directed toward one side.

Adjective

Giving Mary a sideways glance, he said,[…].

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Positioned sideways (with a side to the front).

AdjectiveRegister: informal

There was a stack of papers in front of each seat at the table, but each stack was sideways.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

With a side to the front.

Adverb

He builds houses sideways, with the front door on the side.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Towards one side.

Adverb

A bishop moves only diagonally; a rook, only sideways, forward, and back.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “sideways” mean?

Moving or directed toward one side.

Is “sideways” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.