Sideward Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

👉

Add to dictionary

sideward

[ˈsaɪdwərd ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

in a sideways direction

Moving or facing to the side; lateral.

Synonyms

lateral, side, sideways.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sideward	Used particularly in writing or formal texts to denote movement toward the side, similar to 'sideways'. He leaned sideward to get a better view
lateral	Frequently used in more formal or technical contexts, often in fields such as medicine, sports, and engineering, to describe movement or positions that are toward the side. The athlete made a lateral move to avoid the defender. The doctor noted lateral movement in the patient's joint.
sideways	Often used to describe a direction or position that is to the side, commonly found in everyday language. The chair was knocked sideways. He gave her a sideways glance.
side	Commonly used to describe anything related to the left or right part of something and is very versatile in everyday speech. She stood by his side during the speech. There's a scratch on the side of the car.

Examples of usage

He took a sideward glance at the strange noise coming from the bushes.
The car skidded off the road in a sideward motion.

^{Context #2 | Adverb}

in a sideways direction

Toward one side.

Synonyms

lateral, sideways.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sideward	Primarily used in a formal or technical context, referring to movement or position toward one side. He took a step sideward to avoid the puddle. The engineer noted the sideward shift in the machine's alignment.
sideways	Commonly used in everyday language to describe something that is done, moved, or placed in a direction that is to the right or the left, rather than forward or backward. He glanced sideways to catch a glimpse of the approaching car. The picture frame on the wall hung slightly sideways.
lateral	Often used in medical, scientific, or technical contexts to describe something situated at, proceeding from, or pertaining to the side. The doctor explained the lateral movement of the joint. The lateral branches of the tree were trimmed to prevent damage to the power lines.

Word

Description / Examples

sideward

Primarily used in a formal or technical context, referring to movement or position toward one side.

He took a step sideward to avoid the puddle.
The engineer noted the sideward shift in the machine's alignment.

sideways

Commonly used in everyday language to describe something that is done, moved, or placed in a direction that is to the right or the left, rather than forward or backward.

He glanced sideways to catch a glimpse of the approaching car.
The picture frame on the wall hung slightly sideways.

lateral

Often used in medical, scientific, or technical contexts to describe something situated at, proceeding from, or pertaining to the side.

The doctor explained the lateral movement of the joint.
The lateral branches of the tree were trimmed to prevent damage to the power lines.

Examples of usage

The tree leaned slightly sideward after the strong wind.
She tilted her head sideward to get a better view.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'sideward'

The word 'sideward' is a combination of 'side' and the suffix '-ward', which indicates direction. It originated in Middle English and has been used to describe lateral movement or positioning since the 15th century. The concept of moving or facing to the side has been a common theme in various languages and cultures, reflecting the human tendency to navigate the world not only forward and backward, but also sideways.