besides

American  

[bih-sahydz] / bɪˈsaɪdz /

adverb

1. moreover; furthermore; also.

   Besides, I promised her we would come.

   Synonyms:

   further

2. in addition.

   There are three elm trees and two maples besides.

3. otherwise; else.

   They had a roof over their heads but not much besides.

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preposition

1. over and above; in addition to.

   Besides a mother he has a sister to support.

2. other than; except.

   There's no one here besides Bill and me.

besides British  

/ bɪˈsaɪdz /

preposition

1. apart from; even considering

   besides costing too much, the scheme is impractical

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1. anyway; moreover

adverb

1. as well

Commonly Confused

See beside.

Related Words

Besides, moreover both indicate something additional to what has already been stated. Besides often suggests that the addition is in the nature of an afterthought: The bill cannot be paid as yet; besides, the work is not completed. Moreover is more formal and implies that the addition is something particular, emphatic, or important: I did not like the house; moreover, it was too high-priced.

Etymology

Origin of besides

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; see origin at beside, -s ¹

Example Sentences

Talking to a professional will not cost you anything besides their fee and you’ll likely walk away with some information you wouldn’t have found yourself.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

Has anyone checked on Teddy Swims’ house in whatever city he lives in besides Indio?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

United shares have doubled since the start of 2021, when every other major U.S. airline besides Delta watched its stock fall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

But in practice, besides American oil traders, no one appears to be celebrating or taking this too seriously just yet.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

And besides, what did he have in common with stuck-up town kids?

From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis