beside

Beside is a word with two primary functions in English: a preposition and, less commonly, an adverb. In spatial use, beside means at the side of or next to something. It governs a noun phrase: “The lamp stood beside the sofa.” It can also describe location within a broader area: “The road runs beside the river.” In addition to its literal sense, beside appears in fixed expressions such as “beside oneself” (to be overwhelmed or agitated) and “beside the point” (irrelevant to the matter at hand).

Beside is often confused with besides. Beside means “at the side of” or “next to.” Besides means “in addition to” or “moreover.” Example: “Besides John, I invited Mary” and “Besides the cost, there is also the time involved.”

Origin and history: Beside comes from Old English beside or be side, formed from be- meaning “by” or “near” and side. The spelling and usage have remained relatively stable since the early Middle English period.

Related terms include alongside, adjacent, and neighboring. Beside and its phrases are common in both formal and informal contexts, with usage centered on physical proximity or contextual emphasis rather than a strict grammatical category beyond preposition and adverb.