besides
bih-SYDZ
Besides (prep) means In addition to; apart from. Example: “Besides English, she speaks French and Italian.”
prep
1
In addition to; apart from.
"Besides José, I'll invite Jay and Renée, the three of them."
"Besides English, she speaks French and Italian."
"Besides the rent, we pay for gas and electricity every month."
"Who came to the party besides your cousins?"
adv
1
Used to add an extra, often more persuasive, reason or point.
"I don't want to go out tonight; besides, I have work in the morning."
"The flat is too small for us, and besides, the rent is far too high."
"Why not take the train? Besides, parking in town is a nightmare."
How to use besides
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAdds extra information or a further reason, either as "in addition to X" or as a connecting word meaning "and another thing."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "beside," which means physically next to something.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
besides that
besides which
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like besides.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ English, she speaks French and Italian.
Etymology
An extension of "beside" with an adverbial "-s" ending, from Middle English bisides.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for besides
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include besides:
