What does sideway mean?
Sideway means in, toward, or facing a direction at the side rather than directly forward, backward, or at an angle away from the body. It is especially common in descriptions of glances, movements, objects, and positions: a person may look sideway, a vehicle may slide sideway, or an image may be oriented sideway. The adverb describes the direction of an action, while the adjective characterizes something directed toward or positioned at the side. Both forms are understood in British and American English, but sideways is now the dominant everyday variant. Sideway can therefore sound slightly marked or literary in careful formal prose, though it remains natural in ordinary speech and in established expressions such as “sideway glance.” Its usefulness lies in describing lateral movement precisely without implying that the movement is backward or forward.
In or toward the side; with sideways movement or orientation.
"The beetle crawled sideway along the edge of the window."
Less common than sideways in modern usage but fully standard.
Directed toward or positioned at the side.
"She tried to maintain a sideway position on the narrow ledge."
Usually occurs in established phrases such as “sideway glance” and “sideway movement.”
English often reaches for the extra “s”: when in doubt, think of “sideways,” the everyday form most speakers use.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sideway
The word comes from Old English sīde, meaning “side,” combined with weg, meaning “way” or “path.” The underlying sense was therefore “in the manner of a side-path.” The modern form sideway developed as a shortened variant of the directional expression sideways, while related English compounds such as sidelong, sidecar, and sideboard preserve the same older root element.
Related word forms
How sideway is actually used
Sideway is understood in British and American English but is much less common than the adverb and adjective sideways. It remains standard in phrases such as “sideway glance,” while “sideways glance” is usually the more natural modern wording.
Easily confused with sideway
Sideway and sideways can have the same meaning, but sideways is the more usual modern form in both British and American English.
Sideway describes motion or orientation toward the side, whereas sidelong usually describes a sideways glance, look, or remark.