Basic Details
Word: Beside
Part of Speech: Preposition
Meaning: Next to, or at the side of, someone or something.
Synonyms: next to, alongside, by
Antonyms: far from, away from
Sounds like: besides (in addition to; as well)
How to Spell Beside
Syllables: be - side
Tricky part: It is be + side, and side keeps its final e. Do not confuse beside (next to) with besides (as well as, apart from).
Watch out for: besid, biside, bside
Memory tip: Beside means by the side, so spell it with the whole word side, e included.
Idioms and Phrases
- beside the point: not connected with the main matter being discussed. Example: "Whether the bus was red or blue is beside the point; what matters is that it was late."
- beside oneself: so full of a feeling, such as joy or worry, that you cannot stay calm. Example: "Mira was beside herself with joy when her name appeared on the merit list."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Come and sit beside me on the swing.
Example 2: There is a small temple beside the lake in our colony.
Example 3: Keep your water bottle beside your desk during the test.
Fun Fact
The -s on besides is an old adverb ending. The same ending is heard in always, sometimes and nowadays.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. priviledge 2. beside 3. occurence 4. seperate
a) to divide or move things apart
b) a special right given to a person or group
c) next to or at the side of
d) something that happens
Show answer
c) next to or at the side of. Look for the slips: separate has a in the middle, occurrence doubles both c and r, and privilege has no d.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to beside as used in the sentence:
The old watchman sat beside the fire, warming his hands on the cold December night.
a) alongside
b) opposite
c) distant from
d) beneath
Show answer
a) alongside. Sitting beside the fire means sitting alongside it; distant from would put the watchman far away from its warmth.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to form the right word:
She placed the reading lamp debise her bed.
a) besides
b) bedside
c) besiege
d) beside
Show answer
d) beside. A lamp placed by the bed is beside it; besides and bedside each have one letter too many for debise.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
When the bus finally arrived, Kavya found an empty seat besid her best friend and spent the whole ride talking about the science exhibition.
a) finally
b) besid
c) arrived
d) exhibition
Show answer
b) besid. Write beside with the e that side always keeps.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Choose the word that completes the sentence: 'Who else is coming, ____ Ravi?'
a) behind
b) besides
c) below
d) beside
Show answer
b) besides
2. If a remark is beside the point, it is ____.
a) not relevant
b) about a place
c) very important
d) rude
Show answer
a) not relevant
