adv · prep · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/bɪˈsaɪdz/
US:/bɪˈsaɪdz/
US:/bəˈsaɪdz/
US:/biˈsaɪdz/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪdz
CMU ARPABET:B IH0 S AY1 D Z
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:B IY2 S AY1 D Z
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
Also; in addition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: conjunctive, not-comparable
Examples
We've paid for your whole education and plenty more besides!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Used to emphasize an additional point, especially an important or stronger reason; moreover; furthermore.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: conjunctive, not-comparable
Examples
I don't feel like going out tonight. Besides, I have to work tomorrow morning anyway.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
Otherwise; else.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
I have been to Spain but nowhere besides.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adv
Meaning 4
On one side.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
prep
Meaning 5
In addition to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Besides José, I'll invite Jay and Renée, the three of them.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: aside
6
prep
Meaning 6
Other than; except for; instead of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I don't want to go anywhere besides India.
I want to go with someone besides my father.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
prep
Meaning 7
Beside, next to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
Examples
1561, Geneva Bible, Acts 16:13, And on the Sabbath day, we went out of the citie, besides a riuer, where they were wont to pray : and we sate downe, and spake vnto the women, which were come together.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adverb
Meaning 8
making an additional point; anyway
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I don't want to go to a restaurant; besides, we can't afford it
she couldn't shelter behind him all the time and in any case he wasn't always with her
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: in any case
Antonyms: none provided
9
adverb
Meaning 9
in addition
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he has a Mercedes, too
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: too, also, likewise, as well
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English bisides (also bisiden), extension of biside, equivalent to beside + -s (adverbial suffix).
Across languages
Translations
258 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Azerbaijani:
üstəlik
— also; in addition
Azerbaijani:
bundan başqa
— also; in addition
Azerbaijani:
ondan başqa
— also; in addition
Bulgarian:
също
(sǎšto)
— also; in addition
Bulgarian:
в допълнение
(v dopǎlnenie)
— also; in addition
Catalan:
a més
— also; in addition
Chinese Mandarin:
還有 /还有
(háiyǒu)
— also; in addition
Chinese Mandarin:
並且 /并且
(bìngqiě)
— also; in addition
Dutch:
bovendien
— also; in addition
Dutch:
daarenboven
— also; in addition
Dutch:
daarbij
— also; in addition
Esperanto:
aldone
— also; in addition
Esperanto:
krome
— also; in addition
Esperanto:
plue
— also; in addition
Finnish:
lisäksi
— also; in addition
French:
de plus
— also; in addition
French:
en plus en outre
— also; in addition
French:
de surcroît
— also; in addition
French:
par surcroît par ailleurs
— also; in addition
French:
d'un autre côté
— also; in addition
French:
d'autre part
— also; in addition
French:
au reste
— also; in addition
French:
du reste
— also; in addition
German:
außerdem
— also; in addition
German:
weiterhin
— also; in addition
German:
darüber hinaus
— also; in addition
Greek:
επιπλέον
(epipléon)
— also; in addition
Greek:
επιπροσθέτως
(epiprosthétos)
— also; in addition
Haitian Creole:
dayè
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
ezenkívül
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
ezenfelül
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
azonkívül
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
azonfelül
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
még
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
hozzá
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
mellé
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
emellett
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
amellett
— also; in addition
Hungarian:
azontúl
— also; in addition
Icelandic:
einnig
— also; in addition
Irish:
le cois
— also; in addition
Italian:
in aggiunta
— also; in addition
Japanese:
それに
— also; in addition
Japanese:
ほかに
(hoka ni)
— also; in addition
Latin:
alioqui
— also; in addition
Polish:
poza tym
— also; in addition
Portuguese:
além disso
— also; in addition
Portuguese:
fora isso
— also; in addition
Portuguese:
ademais
— also; in addition
Russian:
кро́ме того́
(króme tovó)
— also; in addition
Russian:
к тому́ же
(k tomú že)
— also; in addition
Slovak:
tiež
— also; in addition
Slovak:
navyše
— also; in addition
Spanish:
además
— also; in addition
Spanish:
aparte
— also; in addition
Spanish:
asimismo
— also; in addition
Spanish:
ítem más
— also; in addition
Spanish:
de añadido
— also; in addition
Spanish:
de ajuste
— also; in addition
Spanish:
de chemís
— also; in addition
Telugu:
పైగా
(paigā)
— also; in addition
Ukrainian:
крім то́го
(krim tóho)
— also; in addition