besides
11 synonyms for besides, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Prep — In addition to; apart from.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
apart from
in addition to
aside from
other than
as well as
on top of
save for
Synonyms by Meaning
1. prep
In addition to; apart from.
“Besides José, I'll invite Jay and Renée, the three of them.”
How to use besides
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
besides that
besides which
Etymology
An extension of "beside" with an adverbial "-s" ending, from Middle English bisides.
Full origin of besides →Frequently asked questions
What does “besides” mean?
The word “besides” means in addition to; apart from. In plain terms, adds extra information or a further reason, either as "in addition to X" or as a connecting word meaning "and another thing.".
How do you pronounce “besides”?
“Besides” is pronounced bih-SYDZ (/bɪˈsaɪdz/ in IPA).
How do you use “besides” in a sentence?
Here is “besides” used in a sentence: “Besides English, she speaks French and Italian.”
What is another word for “besides”?
Words with a similar meaning to “besides” include on top of and save for.
What part of speech is “besides”?
Depending on how it is used, “besides” can be a preposition and an adverb.
Where does the word “besides” come from?
The word “besides” comes from Middle English. An extension of "beside" with an adverbial "-s" ending, from Middle English bisides.
Is “besides” a common word?
“Besides” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “besides” have?
“Besides” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in addition to; apart from.
What is the difference between besides and beside?
Beside means next to or at the side of something, describing a physical position: sit beside me. Besides means in addition to or apart from: besides the cost, it's too far. The extra 's' signals addition, not location. Mixing them up is one of the most common spelling slips in English.
Can besides start a sentence?
Yes. At the start of a sentence, besides works as an adverb meaning moreover or anyway, adding a further point: Besides, we can't afford it. As a preposition it means in addition to or apart from. Both uses are correct, though the sentence-opener feels slightly more informal and conversational.
What is an example of besides in a sentence?
Besides English, she speaks French and Japanese — here it means in addition to. It can also mean apart from: no one besides you knows the answer. The word always points to something extra or excluded, never to physical position, which is what beside handles.
