preposition

beside

next to, at the side of, compared with

He sat beside me.

He sat beside me.

That seems unimportant beside the main problem.

That seems unimportant beside the main problem.

beside ((sb./sth.)) next to (sb./sth.) He sat beside me.

Synonyms: next to, near; Commonly confused with: besides

From Old English 'be sīdan', meaning 'by the side of'. It combines 'be-' (by) and 'side'.

Think of the phrase 'be by my side'. This directly helps you remember that 'beside' means next to.

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