Synonyms

sideline

American

[sahyd-lahyn] / ˈsaɪdˌlaɪn /

noun

a line at the side of something.
a business or activity pursued in addition to one's primary business; a second occupation.
an additional or auxiliary line of goods.

a grocery store with a sideline of household furnishings.
Sports.
1. either of the two lines defining the side boundaries of a field or court.
2. sidelines, the area immediately beyond either sideline, where the substitute players sit.
sidelines, the position or point of view taken by a person who observes an activity or situation but does not directly participate in it.

verb (used with object)

sidelined, sidelining

to render incapable of participation, especially in anything involving vigorous, physical action, as a sport.

An injury to his throwing arm sidelined the quarterback for two weeks.

sideline British

/ ˈsaɪdˌlaɪn /

noun

sport a line that marks the side boundary of a playing area
a subsidiary interest or source of income
an auxiliary business activity or line of merchandise

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

to prevent (a player) from taking part in a game
to prevent (a person) from pursuing a particular activity, operation, career, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sideline

An Americanism dating back to 1685–95; side ¹ + line ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

High home prices and elevated mortgage rates kept many aspiring home buyers on the sidelines, and many homeowners from selling their properties, in 2025.

From MarketWatch

However, Le Bris said Mundle "might be sidelined for a few weeks or months" with an injury and would miss Sunderland's game at Bournemouth on Saturday.

From BBC

But for now, a lot of would-be buyers are staying on the sidelines.

From The Wall Street Journal

The decline could coax some off the sidelines, said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

From Barron's

“There’s a pool, I think, of wannabe buyers who have just been sitting on the sidelines and waiting for rates to come down,” Daniel Seely said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023