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.
Some sustainability commitments are falling by the wayside as fiscal pressures mount; last week, PepsiCo last week abandoned its commitment to shareholders for 20 percent of all beverage servings to be delivered in reusable or refillable packaging. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 May 2025 While a bunch of the top golf stars in the event fell to the wayside, Scheffler had an eagle on 14 and seven birdies. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025 While some of these will gain traction and, in time, become an unwelcome addition to the cybersecurity lexicon, most will fall by the wayside. Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 In that context, concerns about democracy have fallen by the wayside. Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 7 May 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wayside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wayside. Accessed 3 Jun. 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

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