Phrase guide

take sides

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To ally oneself with a given opinion, agenda or group; to support one side or viewpoint in a competition or confrontation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I am not going to argue with you, and I am not going to take sides in this discussion.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pick sides, choose sides

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: اتّخذ طرفًا — to join in a confrontation
  • Azerbaijani: tərəf tutmaq — to join in a confrontation
  • Esperanto: partianiĝi — to join in a confrontation
  • Finnish: valita puolta — to join in a confrontation
  • Finnish: ottaa kantaa — to join in a confrontation
  • French: prendre parti — to join in a confrontation
  • German: Partei ergreifen — to join in a confrontation
  • German: auf eine Seite schlagen — to join in a confrontation
  • Polish: opowiadać się — to join in a confrontation
  • Polish: zajmować stanowisko — to join in a confrontation
  • Polish: zająć stanowisko — to join in a confrontation
  • Spanish: apartidarse — to join in a confrontation
  • Thai: เข้าข้าง (kâo-kâang) — to join in a confrontation