Besides | Meaning, Definition & Example Sentences

Besides can be used as a preposition meaning ‘except’ or ‘in addition to’. It can also be used as an adverb meaning ‘as well’ or ‘moreover’.

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How to use besides in a sentence

Besides can be used as a preposition meaning ‘except’ or ‘in addition to’.

It can also be used as an adverb meaning ‘as well’ or ‘furthermore‘. When it introduces a sentence or independent clause, it’s followed by a comma.

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Beside or besides

Beside and besides are related words, but they don’t have the same meaning and shouldn’t be used interchangeably.

• Beside (no ‘s’) is a preposition meaning ‘next to’. It can also be used to mean ‘compared with’, though this meaning is less common (e.g., ‘My handwriting looks awful beside yours’).
• Besides (with an ‘s’) has various meanings including ‘except’, ‘as well as’, and ‘furthermore’. Unlike ‘beside’, it doesn’t refer to literal physical proximity.

Besides the point or beside the point

Beside the point is an expression used to describe something as ‘irrelevant’ or ‘unimportant’. While ‘besides the point’ is sometimes used by mistake, it’s incorrect and should be avoided.

Besides that

Besides that means ‘other than that’ or in addition to that’. ‘That’ is used in this expression to refer back to a thing you have previously mentioned. If it introduces a sentence or independent clause, it’s followed by a comma.

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Other interesting language articles

If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

Frequently asked questions

What is a synonym of ‘besides’?

There are different synonyms for the various meanings of besides.

Except	In addition to	As well	Furthermore
Apart from	As well as	Also	Additionally
But	Along with	Too	Further
Other than	Together with		Moreover

Is it ‘beside’ or ‘besides’?

Beside and besides are related words, but they don’t have the same meaning.

• Beside is a preposition meaning ‘next to’. It can also be used to mean ‘compared with’.
• Besides can be used as a preposition and adverb. It has various meanings including ‘apart from’, ‘in addition to’, and ‘moreover’, but isn’t used for literal physical closeness.

Scribbr’s Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using words like ‘beside’ and ‘besides’ correctly in your writing.

Is besides a preposition?

Yes, besides is a preposition meaning ‘apart from’ (e.g., ‘Laura doesn’t like hot drinks besides cocoa’). It can also be used to mean ‘as well as’ (e.g., ‘Besides traveling, Angie enjoys cooking’).

Scribbr’s Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using ‘besides’ correctly in your writing.