ENGLISH
REFERENCE

beside

prep.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˌbiˈsaɪd// UK //bɪsˈaɪd// be·side General-service Literary

prep. at the side of or next to something. You use this when you want to describe where something is located in relation to another object.

prep. at the side of; next to. Indicates spatial proximity or a position adjacent to a reference point.


SIMPLE

She sat beside her friend during the movie.

CONTEXTUAL

The small cottage stands beside a quiet river at the edge of the woods.

COMPLEX

The ancient ruins lie beside a modern highway, creating a striking contrast between the architectural styles of two different millennia.

Origin

From Middle English beside, besiden, bisyde (also besides > besides), from Old English be sīdan, bī sīdan (“by the side (of), on the side (of)”). Compare Saterland Frisian biesiede (“aside”), German Low German bisied (“aside”), German beiseite (“aside, to one side”). Compare also Dutch terzijde (“aside”). By surface analysis, be- + side.

Usage

Takes a noun or pronoun as an object. Often confused with 'besides', which means 'in addition to'.

Pitfall

I sat besides the windowI sat beside the window'Beside' refers to physical location, while 'besides' means 'in addition to' or 'except for'.

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