besidebe‧side /bɪˈsaɪd/ ●●● S3 W2 preposition 
Wendy came up and sat beside me. the table beside the bed I was standing right beside her at the time. ► Do not confuse beside (=next to) and besides (=in addition to): He sat down beside Mary. | Who was there besides you?2in comparison with something or someone: This year’s sales figures don’t look very good beside last year’s results. The children seemed tiny beside him.3be beside yourself to be feeling so angry, excited etc that you find it difficult to control yourself: The poor girl was almost beside herself.be beside yourself with anger/excitement/rage etc Mom and Dad will be beside themselves with worry.4be beside the point to not be directly connected with the main subject or problem that you are talking about: He’s very charming, but that’s beside the point.
WORD ORIGINbeside
Origin:
Old English be sidan ‘at or to the side’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a cabin beside the lake
- Delhi is so old that many European cities actually look young beside it.
- Ella came and sat down beside me.
- Gary, come sit beside me.
- On the table beside the bed were several medicine bottles.
- The loss of the port pales beside the gain of a peace treaty.
- They were sitting beside the pool, eating breakfast.
- Tom's efforts seemed so weak beside Martin's.
THESAURUS
preposition very close to someone or something, with no other person, building, place etc in between: · I sat next to him at dinner.· The hotel was right next to the airport.
preposition next to the side of someone or something: · Ella came and sat down beside me.· They were sitting beside the pool.
preposition next to something – often used about being very close to a window, door, or the edge of something such as an area of water: · I saw him standing by the window.· Weymouth is a pretty little town by the sea.· She lives by the river.
adverb in the building or room next to yours, or next to another one: · The house next door is much bigger than ours.· Have you met the people who’ve just moved in next door?
adverb, preposition close to the side of something, especially a river, railway, boat, or vehicle: · I decided to take the path alongside the railway track.· A police car pulled up alongside.
adjective, adverb formal a building, room, or piece of land that is adjacent to another one is next to it: · They walked through a rose garden adjacent to the hospital.· The blaze spread to two adjacent buildings.
adjective formal an adjoining room, building, or piece of land is one that is next to another one and is joined to it: · We had adjoining rooms at the hotel.
Longman Language Activatorwhen one thing is being compared with another · The British are good drivers compared to those in the rest of the EU.· Statistics show that there has been a 20% reduction in burglary compared with last year.· Women visit their doctors six times a year compared to the three or so visits that men make.
as shown when compared with another situation, idea, person etc: · My car is so slow that it makes a bicycle look fast in comparison.in comparison/by comparison with: · We employ far fewer staff in comparison with similar-sized companies.pale in/by comparison (=to look worse or much less important in comparison): · Forecasters say this year's drought could make that of 1991 pale by comparison.· The Yankees' problems pale by comparison with those of the Dodgers.
use this to talk about the difference between the things, situations, people etc that you are comparing: · I read a lot as a child, but my daughter, by contrast, just seems interested in television.in contrast to: · In contrast to the hot days, the nights are bitterly cold.
use this to say that something seems more or less impressive, important etc when compared to something else: · Tom's efforts seemed so weak beside Martin's.· Delhi is so old that many European cities actually look young beside it.
use this when you are comparing two pieces of information, facts, etc in order to show how they are different: · Last year there were 443 industrial accidents as against 257 in 1985.· With only 57 inhabitants per square mile, as against a world average of over 70, the country is far from overcrowded.
use this to say that something does not seem correct, suitable, impressive etc compared with the things that surround it: · Ricky's head is small in proportion to the rest of his body.· I've always thought that my problems were very minor in proportion to those of many other people.
having a particular quality when compared with something else: · Kim lived a life of relative ease and privilege.relative strength/weakness: · the relative strength of the dollar against the Mexican pesorelative advantages (and disadvantages): · She was terrified of flying. The relative advantages of air travel didn't tempt her at all.relative merits (=what is good about them compared with each other): · The two men stood at the bar discussing the relative merits of various sports cars.it is all relative (=it can not be judged on its own, but must be compared with others): · It's all relative, isn't it? Someone who is poor in this country might be considered well off in another.
: comparative happiness/comfort/safety etc happiness, comfort, safety etc that is fairly satisfactory when compared to another: · After a lifetime of poverty, his last few years were spent in comparative comfort.· Fresh fruit and vegetables have become a comparative rarity in the region.· During the bombings, families sheltered in the comparative safety of the underground rail stations.
: more/less/bigger etc than · Geographically, Canada is bigger than the US.· My sister earns a lot more than I do.
not connected with the subject you are talking about · Chris continued to annoy her with questions on totally irrelevant subjects.· "But I didn't know it was illegal to park here.'' "That's completely irrelevant.''irrelevant to · To many young people, the church seems outdated and irrelevant to modern times.
spoken say this when you think that what someone has said does not have any real connection with what you are arguing about: · "Is she married or single?" "That's completely beside the point - the question is, does she have the ability to do the job?"
if something has nothing to do with a subject, it is not connected with it in any way: · My back was bothering me a little bit, but that had nothing to do with how badly I played.· I don't know what's the matter with Billy -- he says it's nothing to do with school.· My father was a remote figure who had nothing to do with my everyday life.
British spoken /what does that have to do with ...? especially American, spoken say this when someone has mentioned something and you cannot understand how it is connected with the subject you are talking about: · I realize you didn't get home until after midnight but what does that have to do with coming in late for work?
spoken say this about something that someone has mentioned that does not influence or affect what you are talking about: · Whether the applicant is a man or a woman doesn't come into it.· I'm afraid this is company policy, and your own views on the matter simply don't enter into it.
spoken say this when someone has mentioned something that they think is important but you do not agree: · What I think about your husband is neither here nor there.· It's true we're not friends but that's neither here nor there. We're still able to work together.
if something has no bearing on the situation that you are talking about, it does not affect that situation or help to explain it: · The president's age has no bearing on whether or not I will vote for him.· A suspect's previous criminal record should have no bearing on the trial.
facts or information that are not connected with the subject that is being discussed or considered, and take people's attention away from what is really important: · Concerns about the cost of the project are a red herring.
next to someone or something · Roy had the seat next to the window.· I parked my car next to yours.· "Have you and Chris met?" "Yes, we were sitting next to each other at dinner."· "Where's the French dictionary?" "On the bottom shelf, next to the encyclopaedia."right next to (=next to and very close to) · I couldn't believe it. There was Tom Cruise, right next to me!· The hotel was right next to the airport.
next to or very close to something: · I saw him standing by the window.· Weymouth is a pretty little town by the sea.by the side of something (=next to a river, road, path etc): · Several soldiers were sitting on the grass by the side of the road.wait by the phone: · Relatives are anxiously waiting by the phone for more news about the plane crash.
next to or very close to someone or something: · Ella came and sat down beside me.· On the table beside the bed were several medicine bottles.· They were sitting beside the pool, eating breakfast.
next to another building, room etc or living in the next house: · "Is this Maria's office?" "No, hers is next door."· Have you met the people who've just moved in next door?next door to: · Why don't we meet at that little French bistro next door to the theater?live next door to somebody: · "How do you know Marsha?" "I used to live next door to her."
standing, sitting, or placed next to someone, especially when they are doing something: · I like to have a Thesaurus at my side whenever I do any writing.· Dirk went and stood by her side, his arm around her slender waist.
next to a road or path: · Richard left his motorcycle on the side of the road and started to walk.· Tests in April showed that police cars parked at the side of motorways reduce speeds by ten miles per hour on average.
in a line close to the side of a river, coast, border etc: · We followed the path along the shore for several miles.· Walk along the canal as far as the bridge.· The Rif Mountains were visible as we sailed along the African coast.all along (=from one end to another): · Troops were stationed all along the border.
if two people are walking, sitting or lying side by side , they are next to each other: · We walked along slowly, side by side.· Sabina and Mel sat side by side in the back seat.
next to or along the side of something: · The two boats were moored alongside each other in the harbor.· I decided to take the path alongside the railway track.· The driver was just getting out of his car when a police car pulled up alongside.
if people walk two/three/four etc abreast , that number of them walk at the same speed next to each other: · The sidewalk was wide enough for us to walk three abreast.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I was standing right beside her at the time. Mom and Dad will be beside themselves with worry.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
I was standing right beside her at the time. Mom and Dad will be beside themselves with worry. (=be not the most important thing to consider)· He's the best person for the job so his age is beside the point.
(=be so angry that you cannot control yourself)· They had been publicly humiliated and were beside themselves with rage.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1next to or very close to the side of someone or something: - I thought it was outrageous, and Clarisa was beside herself.
- I was beside myself with joy and excitement.
- Many observers believe that Kiley and Livingstone should be beside themselves with joy at the major concessions they have won.
- She was beside herself with grief.
- The boy was beside himself with agitation.
- They had been publicly assaulted and humiliated in front of a crowd of people and were beside themselves with rage.
- When he found that his theory exactly predicted the path of Mercury, he was beside himself with happiness for days.
- When the Republicans tried to eliminate some of the things I felt proudest about, I was beside myself about it.
- It's unrealistic, but that's beside the point - it's just good entertainment.
- But the pedigree of this idea is beside the point.
- But to criticize Mr Hall's production as an exercise in fuddy-duddy Shakespeare is beside the point.
- He may manufacture these life units as required and he may simply have a given supply: that is beside the point.
- She had come to no harm, but that was beside the point.
- This semantic distinction is beside the point; the special admissions program is undeniably a classification based on race and ethnic back-ground.
- What the outcome of seeing him might be is beside the point.
- At two o'clock she seated herself at a window-table in a restaurant overlooking the Nile, near where the houseboat was moored.
- Hardin noted that thoughtfully and seated himself wearily in a corner just as far from the other five as possible.
- He seated himself at one end, and Emily sat beside him.
- He watched Ewen steadily, while the constable, who had seated himself at the kitchen table, was taking notes.
- She seated herself in a wicker chair and took her mug without speaking.
- She seats herself, opens it, begins to play.
- The pupils seat themselves in a square representing the doctor's office.
- Watson, and seat yourself precisely as you were overnight.
Wendy came up and sat beside me. the table beside the bed I was standing right beside her at the time. ► Do not confuse beside (=next to) and besides (=in addition to): He sat down beside Mary. | Who was there besides you?2in comparison with something or someone: This year’s sales figures don’t look very good beside last year’s results. The children seemed tiny beside him.3be beside yourself to be feeling so angry, excited etc that you find it difficult to control yourself: The poor girl was almost beside herself.be beside yourself with anger/excitement/rage etc Mom and Dad will be beside themselves with worry.4be beside the point to not be directly connected with the main subject or problem that you are talking about: He’s very charming, but that’s beside the point.