besides
besides
Pronunciation
besides /bɪˈsaɪdz/
bi-: /bɪ/
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
sides: /ˈsaɪdz/
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/aɪ/ - diphthong (as in "my")
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
/z/ - voiced alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
"Besides" is primarily used as a preposition or an adverb. As such, it does not have variations in the same way that nouns or verbs do (e.g., singular/plural, different tenses). Its form remains consistent.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Preposition
Definition 1: In addition to; apart from; other than.
Synonyms: apart from, in addition to, other than, excluding, bar, save
Antonyms: including, incorporating, encompassing
Definition 2: Next to; alongside. (While less common in modern usage, this is an older meaning.)
Synonyms: next to, alongside, by, adjacent to
Antonyms: away from, distant from
Adverb
Definition 1: Moreover; furthermore; in addition. Used to introduce an additional point or argument.
Synonyms: furthermore, moreover, in addition, additionally, also, too
Antonyms: nevertheless, nonetheless, however (when used to introduce a contrasting point)
Definition 2: In any case; anyway. Used to dismiss a previous point or to introduce a new topic.
Synonyms: anyway, in any case, anyhow, regardless
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, no direct antonyms for this usage)
Examples of Use
Books: "But besides the initial shock of the war, the most difficult part was the waiting." (From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, 1990)
Newspapers: "Besides the economic implications, the new trade agreement raises significant environmental concerns." ( The Guardian)
Online Publications: "What's the best strategy for online marketing? Besides SEO and content creation, building a strong social media presence is crucial." ( Forbes.com)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): "I don't need your help, besides, I've got this handled." (Dialogue from the film Dune: Part Two, March 2024)
Entertainment Platforms (TV Show): "It was a tough challenge, but besides, we learned a lot from the experience." (Commentary during a cooking competition show, MasterChef)
General Public Discourse: "I can't go to the party tonight. I'm really tired, and besides, I have an early meeting tomorrow." (Spoken conversation)
General Public Discourse: "The new park is great for families, and besides, it offers a fantastic view of the city." (Online forum post)
10 Quotes Using Besides
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it." (George Bernard Shaw)
"I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework." (Lily Tomlin)
"What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are." Besides, if we're the most intelligent things in the universe... well, that's just depressing." (Rekha Sharma)
"If there is anything besides the Self there is reason to fear? Who sees the second? First, the ego arises and sees objects as external." (Ramana Maharshi)
"I don't believe in dying. It's been done. I'm working on a new exit. Besides, I can't die now - I'm booked." (George Burns)
"Besides pride, loyalty, discipline, heart, and mind, confidence is the key to all the locks." (Joe Paterno)
"I like to have strong opinions with nothing to back them up with besides my primal sincerity." (Kurt Cobain)
"In life, you need many more things besides talent. Things like good advice and common sense." (Hack Wilson)
"There is nothing besides a spiritual world; what we call the world of the senses is the Evil in the spiritual world, and what we call Evil is only the necessity of a moment in our eternal evolution." (Franz Kafka)
"I am obsessive, also I am industrious. Besides, the time when you are most alive and most aware is in childhood and one is trying to recapture that heightened awareness." (Edna O'Brien)
Etymology
The word "besides" comes from a much older English phrase that literally meant "by the side (of)."
Imagine Old English, a language that existed long before what we speak today. Back then, people would say things like "be sīdan" or "bī sīdan," which meant "by the side of" something. This was used to show something was physically next to another.
Over time, this phrase evolved. In Middle English (the period after Old English, roughly from 1150 to 1500), it started appearing as "beside" or "besiden." The "-s" that we see at the end of "besides" was then added as an adverbial ending, which often means "in addition" or "otherwise."
So, while "beside" (without the 's') generally kept its meaning of "next to," "besides" took on the meaning of "in addition to" or "apart from."
The first known use of "besides" in writing, with this broader meaning of "in addition to" or "other than," dates back to around 1200 AD, appearing in texts from the Middle English period. It became quite common after the 14th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Besides
Besides the point: Irrelevant; not central to the main issue.
Besides all that: In addition to everything else mentioned.
Nobody besides you: Only you; no one else.
Besides which: Furthermore; moreover (often used to introduce an additional reason).
Beside oneself (with joy/grief/anger): Overwhelmed by emotion; in a state of extreme emotion.
To be beside the mark: To be irrelevant or wide of the point.
Standing beside: Being physically next to someone or something.
Nothing besides that: Only that; exclusively that.
Apart from that: (Using a synonym) Excluding that; otherwise.
In addition to: (Using a synonym) As well as; over and above.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of besides from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
