side quest

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A smaller task or adventure that is separate from the main story or main goal.

   Grammar: Countable, so it takes a/an and a plural: a side quest, two side quests.

   Patterns

   • go on a side quest
   • a side quest in a game
   • do a side quest

   I spent three hours on a side quest instead of finishing the main story.

   The village elder gives you a side quest to find his lost goat.

   Some players ignore the side quests and rush to the final boss.

2. 2nouncountablefigurativeinformal

   Any extra activity you do alongside your main work or purpose.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively in everyday speech; usually singular with a possessive: my side quest.

   Patterns

   • a side quest from something
   • on a side quest

   Learning to bake was a fun side quest from my main studies.

   He calls his podcast a side quest from his day job.

Word forms

Common combinations

go on a side quest

We went on a side quest to explore the cave before the final battle.

complete a side quest

She completed every side quest in the game.

optional side quest

This is just an optional side quest, so you can skip it.

main quest

The main quest takes ten hours, but the side quests take much longer.

a side quest from something

His blog started as a side quest from his research.

Synonyms and how they differ

detour

A detour is a physical or figurative change of route, while a side quest is an extra task with its own small goal.

errand

An errand is a short practical trip or task; a side quest sounds more adventurous and is common in games.

Opposites

Word family

quest noun

A long search or journey toward an important goal.

quest verb

To search for something over a long period, often in literary use.

Commonly confused: side quest or sidekick?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “side quest”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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