beside

1 of 2

preposition

be·​side bi-ˈsīd 

bē-

1

a

: by the side of

walk beside me

a house beside a small lake

b

: in comparison with

potential complications are minor beside the benefits

c

: on a par with

a composition that can be ranked beside that of the masters

2

: not relevant to

but that's beside the point

3

: besides

No one knows beside me.

learning other languages beside French and English

see also:

beside oneself

beside

2 of 2

adverb

1

archaic : nearby

2

archaic : besides

Synonyms of beside

Preposition

• besides
• along with

Examples of beside in a Sentence

Preposition

She sat beside him during dinner.

The man beside her was wearing a brown suit and hat.

They were walking beside me.

Stand beside the statue and I'll take your picture.

Their house is beside a small lake.

These problems seem unimportant beside the potential benefits of the new system.

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

The archaeological zone sits right beside urbanized Colima. — Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026

While that French hydrangea may look stunning beside your mailbox, growing in an area with direct sunlight is a surefire way to jeopardize your blooms. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 24 June 2026

Adverb

Try not to place your setup too close to others, whether in front of, behind, or beside. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 19 June 2026

By 'standing beside' their transfer quarterback in Lubbock, the NCAA of all organizations has garnered empathy from fans across the country. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Preposition and Adverb

Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English be sīdan at or to the side, from be at (from bī) + sīdan, dative & accusative of sīde side — more at by

First Known Use

Preposition

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beside

• beside oneself
• beside the point

Rhymes for beside

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

Kids Definition

beside

preposition

be·​side

bi-ˈsīd

1

a

: by the side of

walk beside me

b

: in comparison with

the kitten looks tiny beside that big dog

2

: besides entry 1

was the only one, beside me, who objected

3

: not relating to

beside the point