Cool MateBeside
UK /["/bɪˈsaɪd/"]/US /["/bɪˈsaɪd/"]/
Definition
next to or at the side of somebody/something
In simple words: Next to or at the side of something.
Examples
- He sat beside her all night.
- a mill beside a stream
- My painting looks childish beside yours.
- Yes, I know it was an accident, but that's beside the point.
- They took my words out of context, but that’s beside the point.
- He was beside himself with rage when I told him what I had done.
- They were beside themselves with excitement.
Usage notes
Use 'beside' to indicate physical position next to something. Avoid using it in more formal contexts where 'next to' might be preferred.
Grammar pattern
beside + object
Memory hint
Think of 'be side by side' to remember that 'beside' means next to.
Collocations
- sit beside
- stand beside
- place beside
Synonyms
- next to
- alongside
- adjacent to
- close to
Antonyms
- far from
- away from
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'besides', which means 'in addition to'
- Using 'beside' when a different preposition is needed, like 'in front of'
- Incorrectly placing 'beside' at the end of a sentence