sidetrack
/ˈsaɪdˌtɹæk/noun, verb
sidetrack is spelled S-I-D-E-T-R-A-C-K: 9 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 11 million words in written English, the 99,289th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, sidetrack means “A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of sidetrack is sidetracks.
How many letters and syllables are in sidetrack?
| Letters | 9: S-I-D-E-T-R-A-C-K |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 11 million words; the 99,289th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is sidetrack?
Sidetrack appears about once in every 11 million words in written English, the 99,289th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce sidetrack?
- US /ˈsaɪdˌtɹæk/
Sidetrack has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-sidetrack.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with sidetrack?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as sidetrack (/aɪdtɹæk/).
Spelled with the same letters in another order: trackside.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of sidetrack
- sidetracks plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- side-track
- side track
- sidetracking participle, present
- sidetracked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does sidetrack mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for unloading freight, or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction); a railroad siding.
- 2
Any auxiliary railroad track, as differentiated from a siding, that runs adjacent to the main track.
- 3
A smaller tunnel or well drilled as an auxiliary off a main tunnel or well.
- 4
An alternate train of thought, issue, topic, or activity, that is a deviation or distraction from the topic at hand or central activity, and secondary or subordinate in importance or effectiveness.
Stay focused on the story; you keep getting lost in all of these little sidetracks.
verb
- 1
To divert (a locomotive or train) on to a lesser used track in order to allow other trains to pass.
- 2
To divert or distract (someone) from a main issue or course of action with an alternate or less relevant topic or activity; or, to use deliberate trickery or sly wordplay when talking to (a person) in order to avoid discussion of a subject.
Sorry I'm late. I got sidetracked helping my friend move some furniture.
- 3
To sideline; to push aside; to divert or distract from, reducing (something) to a secondary or subordinate position.
The project was sidetracked in favor of a more popular program.
- 4
To deviate briefly from the topic at hand.
Just to sidetrack a little bit from the subject I will explain my reasoning.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Sidetrack in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense to divert or distract:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does sidetrack come from?
From side + track.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).