MEANING
1. Directed toward someone or something to one side rather than straight ahead.
2. Positioned or moving with one side, rather than the front, facing something.
Use it for
describing a sideways glance; showing covert attention without turning the head; depicting a quick look from the corner of the eye; letting a character watch without openly staringMakes sideways visual attention precise without automatically attributing suspicion; distinguishes gaze from bodily orientation. Writing functions: Body language / Oblique attention.
Words that belong together
- a sidelong glance
- a sidelong look
- look sidelong at someone
On the page
She gave the empty chair a sidelong glance before answering.
He looked sidelong at his companion, unwilling to interrupt the story.
He moved sidelong through the narrow gap between the crates.
She sat sidelong to the window, the light touching only one cheek.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- sidelong
Usage notes
Adjective, often before a noun, and adverb. Not normally compared; use more indirect or more oblique when comparison is needed. Register: neutral. Commonness: moderately common (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.