beside
[preposition]
Synonyms:
- next to, abreast of, adjacent to, alongside, at the side of, close to, near, nearby, neighbouring
- beside oneself: distraught, apoplectic, at the end of one's tether, demented, desperate, frantic, frenzied, out of one's mind, unhinged

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Related Words: near, opposite

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English Thesaurus: next to, beside, by, next door, alongside, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

be‧side S3 W2 /bɪˈsaɪd/ preposition
[Language: Old English; Origin: be sidan 'at or to the side']

1. next to or very close to the side of someone or something:
Wendy came up and sat beside me.
the table beside the bed
I was standing right beside her at the time.
► Do not confuse beside (=next to) and besides (=in addition to): He sat down beside Mary. | Who was there besides you?

2. in comparison with something or someone:
This year’s sales figures don’t look very good beside last year’s results.
The children seemed tiny beside him.

3. be beside yourself to be feeling so angry, excited etc that you find it difficult to control yourself:
The poor girl was almost beside herself.
be beside yourself with anger/excitement/rage etc
Mom and Dad will be beside themselves with worry.

4. be beside the point to not be directly connected with the main subject or problem that you are talking about:
He’s very charming, but that’s beside the point.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

beside
preposition
1.
BAD: We need to discover another source of income, beside oil.
GOOD: We need to discover another source of income, besides oil.
BAD: We went swimming in the river besides my house.
GOOD: We went swimming in the river beside my house.

Usage Note:
beside = next to: 'She walked over and sat down beside me.'
besides = in addition to; also: 'Who did you invite besides Tom and Mary?' 'Besides tennis, what other games do you play?' 'I'm too old to apply for the job. Besides, it would mean moving house.'

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2.
BAD: Beside of the traditional ceremonies, there are also foreign weddings.
GOOD: Besides the traditional ceremonies, there are also foreign weddings.
BAD: Besides of this problem, her husband had lost his job.
GOOD: Besides this problem, her husband had lost his job.

Usage Note:
When you mean 'in addition to', use besides (WITHOUT of ): 'Who did you speak to, besides Alice?' Beside/s of does not exist.

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3.
BAD: Beside the reduction of unemployment, the government has achieved very little.
GOOD: Apart from the reduction of unemployment, the government has achieved very little.
BAD: Besides the goalkeeper, who was a disaster, the team played very well.
GOOD: Apart from the goalkeeper, who was a disaster, the team played very well.

Usage Note:
When you want to say that someone or something is not included in your main statement, use apart from (NOT beside/s ): 'Apart from Peter, everyone had a good time.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

next to preposition very close to someone or something, with no other person, building, place etc in between:
I sat next to him at dinner.
The hotel was right next to the airport.
beside preposition next to the side of someone or something:
Ella came and sat down beside me.
They were sitting beside the pool.
by preposition next to something – often used about being very close to a window, door, or the edge of something such as an area of water:
I saw him standing by the window.
Weymouth is a pretty little town by the sea.
She lives by the river.
next door adverb in the building or room next to yours, or next to another one:
The house next door is much bigger than ours.
Have you met the people who’ve just moved in next door?
alongside adverb, preposition close to the side of something, especially a river, railway, boat, or vehicle:
I decided to take the path alongside the railway track.
A police car pulled up alongside.
adjacent adjective, adverb formal a building, room, or piece of land that is adjacent to another one is next to it:
They walked through a rose garden adjacent to the hospital.
The blaze spread to two adjacent buildings.
adjoining adjective formal an adjoining room, building, or piece of land is one that is next to another one and is joined to it:
We had adjoining rooms at the hotel.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

beside
beside (yourself)
extremely upset or excited.
My mother was beside herself with curiosity.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲