sidelong

C2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /ˈsaɪdlɔːŋ/ UK /ˈsaɪdlɒŋ/ See IPA manual

Freq #126719

Meanings

1

adj
directed toward one side, especially in a secretive, doubtful, or suspicious glance

She gave him a sidelong look to see whether he believed the excuse.
2

adv
toward one side or obliquely rather than straight ahead

The lizard moved sidelong across the rough stone wall.
3

adj
indirect or presented from an unusual angle

The essay offers a sidelong critique of the country's class system.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · directed toward one side,... sideways askance oblique

2 adv · toward one side or... sideways obliquely

3 adj · indirect or presented from... indirect oblique

Opposites

straight directhead-on

Word family

Related forms sidelingsidlesidling

Etymology

An alteration of Middle English sideling or sidlyng, "sideways," formed from side + the adverbial suffix -ling. Speakers later reshaped the ending under the influence of the unrelated word long. The adjective developed from the older adverbial use.

Topics

Space, Position & Direction

External links

# sidelong

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈsaɪdlɔːŋ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsaɪdlɒŋ/
**Frequency rank:** 126719

## Meanings
1. directed toward one side, especially in a secretive, doubtful, or suspicious glance
2. toward one side or obliquely rather than straight ahead
3. indirect or presented from an unusual angle

## Examples
- She gave him a sidelong look to see whether he believed the excuse.
- The lizard moved sidelong across the rough stone wall.
- The essay offers a sidelong critique of the country's class system.

## Synonyms
- sideways
- obliquely
- askance
- indirect

## Antonyms
- straight
- direct
- head-on

## Related Forms
- sideling
- sidle
- sidling

## Etymology
An alteration of Middle English sideling or sidlyng, "sideways," formed from side + the adverbial suffix -ling. Speakers later reshaped the ending under the influence of the unrelated word long. The adjective developed from the older adverbial use.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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