wayside

noun

way·​side ˈwā-ˌsīd How to pronounce wayside (audio)
: the side of or land adjacent to a road or path
wayside adjective
Phrases
by the wayside
: out of consideration : into a condition of neglect or disuse
usually used with fall

Examples of wayside in a Sentence

Flowers grew along the wayside.
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.
In the lexicon of healthy habits, feet tend to fall by the wayside. Erica Sloan, SELF, 21 Feb. 2025 There may be too many Yellowjackets to keep track of in the woods, which means key players from previous scenes like Teen Natalie and Teen Tai are falling by the wayside. Esther Zuckerman, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025 Stretching back to Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure, hundreds of corners and free kicks have fallen by the wayside because of poor delivery or poor headers. Beren Cross, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025 But as the committee prepared to hold a vote on whether to advance Gabbard's nomination last week, possible GOP opposition fell by the wayside. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wayside

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wayside was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Wayside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wayside. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

wayside

noun
way·​side ˈwā-ˌsīd How to pronounce wayside (audio)
: the side or border of a road or path
wayside adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on wayside

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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