besides

[bih-sahydz]

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.

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

/ bɪˈsaɪdz /

preposition

1. apart from; even considering

   besides costing too much, the scheme is impractical

1. anyway; moreover

adverb

1. as well

Confusables Note

See beside.

Word History and Origins

Origin of besides¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

These oddballs have little in common besides their defiance of village norms and their families’ mutual disapproval.

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It's one of her largest costs, besides rent and bills, and she says the cost of everything has continued to go "up and up".

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What about the other 492 stocks in the S&P 500 besides the Exuberant Eight mentioned above?

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What about the other 492 stocks in the S&P 500 besides the Exuberant Eight mentioned above?

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Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said borrowing so far this financial year had been the highest on record besides the pandemic.

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