Alongside vs Side by side

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Alongside

Top 2,000 (common) B1 adverb

Side by side

Top 2,000 (common)

	Alongside	Side by side
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˌlɒŋˈsaɪd/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˌlɔːŋˈsaɪd/"]/	🇬🇧 //saɪd baɪ saɪd// 🇺🇸 //saɪd baɪ saɪd//
Meaning	next to or together with something else	Next to each other.
Example	Nick caught up with me and rode alongside.	The cars are parked side by side in the garage.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B1	-
Part of speech	adverb
Collocations	work alongside, stand alongside, alongside each other, live alongside, travel alongside	stand side by side, sit side by side, place side by side, line up side by side, work side by side
Antonyms	apart, separate	-
Common mistakes	Incorrectly using 'alongside' to mean 'instead of'., Confusing 'alongside' with 'along', which has a different meaning.	Confused with 'side-by-side' as a compound word., Using it in contexts where separate is implied.
Usage notes	Use 'alongside' to describe physical positions next to something or as part of a team. It's more formal than 'next to' and may not fit well in very casual conversations.	Used in informal and formal contexts to describe things that are next to each other. Avoid when discussing unrelated subjects.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

All those who stood side by side with your comrades,

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

All those who stood side by side with your comrades,

Side by side

Frequently asked questions: Alongside vs Side by side

What's the difference between Alongside and Side by side?

Alongside: next to or together with something else Side by side: Next to each other.

Can you show an example of each?

Alongside: Nick caught up with me and rode alongside. Side by side: The cars are parked side by side in the garage.

Can I use Alongside and Side by side interchangeably?

Not always. Alongside and Side by side are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.