beside

UK: /bɪˈsaɪd/ US: /bɪˈsaɪd/ ,(bi sīd′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

be•side /bɪˈsaɪd/   prep. 

1. by the side of;
   near:
   Sit down beside me.
2. compared with:
   Beside her, other writers seem amateurish.
3. not relevant to:
   Your argument is beside the point.
4. besides (defs. 4, 5).

adv. 

5. along the side of something:
   We walked, and the dog ran along beside.

Idioms

6. Idioms beside oneself, [be + ~ + with] frantic;
   feeling strong emotion about:
   She was beside herself with fury.

Usage

To express the prepositional meanings "over and above,'' "in addition to,'' and "except,'' besides is preferred tobeside, esp. in careful writing. However, beside sometimes occurs with these meanings as well, even in formal writing.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

be•side  (bi sīd′), prep. 

1. by or at the side of;
   near:
   Sit down beside me.
2. compared with:
   Beside him other writers seem amateurish.
3. apart from;
   not connected with:
   beside the point; beside the question.
4. besides (defs. 4, 5).
5. Idioms beside oneself, almost out of one's senses from a strong emotion, as from joy, delight, anger, fear, or grief:
   He was beside himself with rage when the train left without him.

adv. 

6. along the side of something:
   The family rode in the carriage, and the dog ran along beside.
7. besides (def. 2).

• bef. 1000; Middle English; earlier bi-siden, Old English bī sīdan, be sīdan; see be-, side

Usage

For the prepositional meanings "over and above, in addition to'' and "except'' besides is preferred, especially in edited writing:
Besides these honors he received a sum of money.
We heard no other sound besides the breaking surf.
However, beside sometimes occurs with these meanings as well.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

beside / bɪˈsaɪd/ preposition

1. next to; at, by, or to the side of
2. as compared with
3. away from; wide of
4. besides
5. beside oneself ⇒ (postpositive) often followed by with: overwhelmed; overwrought: beside oneself with grief

adverb

1. at, by, to, or along the side of something or someone

Etymology: Old English be sīdan; see by, side