beside
bih-SYD
Beside (prep) means Next to; at the side of. Example: “Please park your bike beside the fence.”
prep
1
Next to; at the side of.
"A small table beside the bed"
"Please park your bike beside the fence."
"The children stood beside their teacher for the class photograph."
"She sat beside him on the train."
2
Not related to; off the point.
"That argument is beside the question we're actually discussing."
How to use beside
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPhysically next to something, or, in the phrase "beside the point," irrelevant.
Common mistake
"Beside" means next to; "besides" means "in addition to" or "apart from" — they are not interchangeable.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
beside the point
sit beside
beside oneself
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Please park your bike _____ the fence.
Etymology
From Old English be sīdan, literally "by the side."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for beside
See all rhymes for beside →Frequently asked questions
What does “beside” mean?
The word “beside” means next to; at the side of. In plain terms, physically next to something, or, in the phrase "beside the point," irrelevant.
How do you pronounce “beside”?
“Beside” is pronounced bih-SYD (/bɪˈsaɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “beside” in a sentence?
Here is “beside” used in a sentence: “She sat beside him on the train.”
What part of speech is “beside”?
“Beside” is a preposition.
Where does the word “beside” come from?
The word “beside” comes from Old English. From Old English be sīdan, literally "by the side.".
Is “beside” a common word?
“Beside” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “beside” have?
“Beside” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: next to; at the side of.
What is the difference between beside and besides?
Beside is a preposition meaning next to or at the side of, as in "she sat beside me." Besides means in addition to or apart from, as in "besides tea, we had coffee." Mixing the two is one of the most common errors with this word.
Is it correct to say beside myself?
Yes. "Beside myself" is an established idiom meaning overwhelmed by a strong emotion, such as being beside oneself with worry or joy. Here beside conveys being almost outside one's normal state rather than physically next to something.
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