1
: lying or inclining to one side : slanting
2
a
: directed to one side
sidelong looks
b
: indirect rather than straightforward
Examples of sidelong in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Holland Cotter, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2016
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 May 2026
But the main adaptive value, or function, of a sidelong gait is that a crab can move with nearly equal speed to either the left or the right.
—Manjishtha Bhattacharyya, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sidelong
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.
Adverb
And there are some outstanding ones, like the high-polish oil sketch of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart that became the source of many other images, including the sour, sidelong-glancing Washington on the $1 bill.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2016
Adjective
Nevertheless, James Gray pulls us into rooting for this sidelong American dream.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 May 2026
But the main adaptive value, or function, of a sidelong gait is that a crab can move with nearly equal speed to either the left or the right.
—Manjishtha Bhattacharyya, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sidelong
Cite this Entry
“Sidelong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sidelong. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sidelong
1 of 2 adverb
side·long
ˈsīd-ˌlōŋ 
: out of the corner of one's eye
glanced sidelong at the food on the table
sidelong
2 of 2 adjectiveˌsīd-ˌlȯŋ
1
: made to one side or out of the corner of one's eye
a sidelong glance
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
