What does aside mean?
Aside functions primarily as both an adverb and a noun in modern English. As an adverb, it describes movement or positioning away from a main path or focus — stepping aside to let someone pass, setting aside time for a task, or putting money aside for savings. It can also mean setting something out of consideration, as in 'joking aside.' As a noun, an aside is either a quiet remark made to someone nearby, usually confidential or humorous, or — in theatre — a line delivered by a character directly to the audience while other characters are presumed unable to hear. This theatrical device has been a staple of dramatic writing since Shakespearean times, letting playwrights reveal a character's true thoughts. The word derives from the phrase 'on side,' combining 'a-' (from Old English 'of') with 'side.' Its versatility across literal movement, figurative reserve, and dramatic convention makes it a compact but rich term in English vocabulary.
To or on one side; out of the way; or into reserve or storage for later use.
"She set her phone aside so she could concentrate fully on the conversation."
Frequently paired with verbs such as 'step,' 'set,' 'put,' 'move,' and 'brush' to convey deliberate displacement or postponement.
A remark made quietly or confidentially to someone nearby, especially one that strays briefly from the main topic; also, in drama, a short line spoken by a character directly to the audience while other characters are presumed not to hear.
"During the presentation, he dropped an amusing aside that only his colleagues could hear."
In theatrical contexts, this term has a precise technical meaning dating back to classical and Elizabethan drama.
Used when referring to more than one whispered or confidential remark, or multiple theatrical asides within a performance.
"The play was filled with witty asides directed straight at the audience."
When an actor whispers an 'aside,' the entire audience hears it — everyone except the people standing right next to them on stage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aside
Aside originates from Middle English, formed by combining the preposition 'on' or 'of' with 'side,' following a pattern common in adverb formation during that period. It developed as a directional adverb indicating movement toward one side, and the noun sense — particularly its theatrical use — emerged later, becoming established in English dramatic tradition by the early modern period. It shares its root with related words built on 'side,' such as 'beside' and 'alongside.'
How aside is actually used
The theatrical sense of 'aside' is specific to drama and stagecraft, where it carries a technical meaning distinct from everyday use. In general usage, 'aside' as an adverb frequently appears with verbs like 'set,' 'put,' 'step,' and 'brush,' often implying deliberate removal, postponement, or dismissal of something. The plural 'asides' typically appears when referring to multiple whispered remarks or theatrical asides rather than repeated physical movements.
Easily confused with aside
'Aside' is a single word meaning 'to one side' or a whispered remark, while 'a side' refers literally to one face of an object or one party in an agreement.
'Beside' means next to or at the side of something, whereas 'aside' indicates movement away from or out of the way.