besides
Americanadverb
preposition
-
over and above; in addition to.
Besides a mother he has a sister to support.
-
other than; except.
There's no one here besides Bill and me.
preposition
adverb
Commonly Confused
See beside.
Synonym Usage
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the ultimate reveal of the “Lanterns” finale, besides resolving the mystery established in the series premiere, is that the supposedly infallible Guardians are wrong to view fearlessness as the ultimate virtue.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
The earliest universe contained little besides hydrogen and helium, the two simplest elements at the top of the periodic table.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026
“It’s really masking what is a quite obvious correction. If you’re a stock picker, or you own anything besides a few select tech names, it can be a big problem.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
No one is safe from the blame, but no one’s exclusive to blame, either, besides the guy putting together the offense and calling the plays.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
And besides, I think she’ll like all the spooky village decorations.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
