be ‧ side S3 W2 /bɪˈsaɪd/ BrE AmE preposition
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: be sidan 'at or to the side' ]
1 . next to or very close to the side of someone or something:
Wendy came up and sat beside me.
the table beside the bed
I was standing right beside her at the time.
► Do not confuse beside (=next to) and besides (=in addition to) : He sat down beside Mary. | Who was there besides you?
2 . in comparison with something or someone:
This year’s sales figures don’t look very good beside last year’s results.
The children seemed tiny beside him.
3 . be beside yourself to be feeling so angry, excited etc that you find it difficult to control yourself:
The poor girl was almost beside herself.
be beside yourself with anger/excitement/rage etc
Mom and Dad will be beside themselves with worry.
4 . be beside the point to not be directly connected with the main subject or problem that you are talking about:
He’s very charming, but that’s beside the point.
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THESAURUS
▪ next to preposition very close to someone or something, with no other person, building, place etc in between:
I sat next to him at dinner.
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The hotel was right next to the airport.
▪ beside preposition next to the side of someone or something:
Ella came and sat down beside me.
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They were sitting beside the pool.
▪ by preposition next to something – often used about being very close to a window, door, or the edge of something such as an area of water:
I saw him standing by the window.
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Weymouth is a pretty little town by the sea.
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She lives by the river.
▪ next door adverb in the building or room next to yours, or next to another one:
The house next door is much bigger than ours.
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Have you met the people who’ve just moved in next door?
▪ alongside adverb , preposition close to the side of something, especially a river, railway, boat, or vehicle:
I decided to take the path alongside the railway track.
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A police car pulled up alongside.
▪ adjacent adjective , adverb formal a building, room, or piece of land that is adjacent to another one is next to it:
They walked through a rose garden adjacent to the hospital.
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The blaze spread to two adjacent buildings.
▪ adjoining adjective formal an adjoining room, building, or piece of land is one that is next to another one and is joined to it:
We had adjoining rooms at the hotel.