alongside

1 of 2

adverb

along·​side ə-ˈlȯŋ-ˈsīd 

1

: along the side : in parallel position

2

: at the side : close by

a guard with a prisoner alongside

alongside

2 of 2

preposition

1

a

: along the side of

the boat docked alongside the pier

b

: beside sense 1

standing alongside me

2

a

: in company with

… men she has been working alongside …

—Richard Halloran

b

: in addition to

… a special category alongside the awards it annually presents …

—Horizon

Examples of alongside in a Sentence

Adverb

We waited for the other boat to come alongside.

Preposition

The children work alongside their parents in the field.

Bring the boat alongside the dock.

one theory taught alongside the other

The town grew up alongside the college.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Similar footage shared on social media earlier this year appeared to show the same cloud-like pup hopping out of one of Swift's vehicles alongside by her security team. — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Sometimes decisions such as ending a meal with dessert or coffee (or having white or whole wheat bread alongside) take more time than the ones that entail a significant life change. — Literary Hub, 28 July 2026

Preposition

Sangare probably nudges playmaker Mathias Jensen out of the starting XI to line up alongside Yehor Yarmoliuk and Mikkel Damsgaard. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

But those concerns didn’t stop groups of Catholics from joining a recent joyous pilgrimage on Mount Tabor, where the Gospels say Jesus appeared transfigured alongside the Jewish prophets Moses and Elijah. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing alongside

• alongside of
• free alongside ship

Rhymes for alongside

• actinide
• aldehyde
• alkoxide
• amplified
• arsenide
• beautified
• biocide
• bisulphide
• butoxide
• calcified
• ceramide
• certified

Kids Definition

alongside

1 of 2 adverb

along·​side -ˌsīd 

: along or close at the side : in parallel position

a guard with a prisoner alongside

alongside

2 of 2 preposition

: side by side with

especially : parallel to

boats alongside the dock