Word
besides
Phoneticsbe·sides, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌbiˈsaɪdz/
UK/bɪsˈaɪdz/
Sentence adverb
Definitions
01in addition to
B1 · Intermediate
prep. in addition to something; as well as.
prep. in addition to or as well as something else. Often used to introduce a list of items or people that are being included in a statement.
“Besides the salad, we ordered two large pizzas for the group.”
“Besides the primary funding from the government, the research project received several private grants from international environmental organisations.”
Pitfall
Beside my parents, my brother also came.
Besides my parents, my brother also came.
Use 'besides' for 'in addition to'. 'Beside' (without the 's') means 'next to'.
Synonyms
02except for
B1 · Intermediate
prep. other than or except for.
prep. other than; used to indicate an exception or the only remaining option in a set.
“There was no one in the office besides the security guard.”
“The witness claimed she saw no one else at the scene besides the defendant, though the lighting was admittedly poor.”
Synonyms
03giving a stronger reason
B1 · Intermediate Informal
adv. you use this to add an extra, often more important, reason for something.
adv. used as a conjunctive adverb to introduce an additional, often more persuasive or conclusive, point or reason.
Español:además
“I don't want to go to the party; besides, I have too much work.”
“The company cannot afford a new marketing campaign this quarter; besides, our current strategy is still yielding significant growth in the target demographic.”
Usage
Usually placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause to add a final point.
Synonyms
04otherwise
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. in other ways or in addition to what has been mentioned.
adv. otherwise; in addition to what has already been stated or considered.
“She is a bit shy, but besides that, she is a great leader.”
“The engine has a minor oil leak, but besides that, the vehicle is in excellent mechanical condition for its age.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “besides” in context.
Noun
01. anyone besides you
“I haven't told anyone besides you about my plans to move abroad.”
noun + prep
02. nothing besides this
“There was nothing besides this old photograph left in the empty house.”
noun + prep
Preposition
03. besides the cost
“Besides the cost of the flight, you need to consider the price of the hotel.”
prep + noun
04. besides the fact
“Besides the fact that it was raining, the hike was actually quite enjoyable.”
prep + noun
05. besides the obvious
“Besides the obvious benefits of exercise, it also helps improve your sleep quality.”
prep + noun
06. besides the point
“Whether you like the color or not is besides the point; we need a car that works.”
prep + noun
Confusables
Beside indicates physical proximity, while besides introduces an additional point or item.
RememberBeside = By the side of; Besides = S added for 'Something extra'.
Real-World Examples
“Besides Waltz and Hegseth, the group also included the vice-president, JD Vance, and the CIA director, John Ratcliffe.” “Besides costs, some officials worried about technical problems.” Etymology
From Middle English bisides (also bisiden), extension of biside, equivalent to beside + -s (adverbial suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/besides
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0