side by side

adverb

1
: beside one another
walking side by side
2
: in the same place, time, or circumstance
lived peacefully side by side for many years
side-by-side adjective

Examples of side by side in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the years, the pair navigated nearly every stage of adulthood side by side. Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026 As always, verisimilitude and the supernatural exist side by side in this tale of the denizens of a boardinghouse in Pittsburgh. Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 15 May 2026 Editors sampled the chickens side by side, scoring them on taste, texture, and overall experience using a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 15 May 2026 Juneteenth in Tulsa takes over the Greenwood District — a place where celebration and history sit side by side on the same streets. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for side by side

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of side by side was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Side by side.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/side%20by%20side. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

side by side

adverb
: beside one another
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster