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.
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
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.
The tariff and other costs besides the metal account for about $2,520, according to S&P Global Energy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
The Pitt covers everything from a measles outbreak, a shooting at a festival, the opioid crisis, medical abortion, black maternal care, homelessness and more besides.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The bot and the baby know nothing of the world it describes, besides a handful of overused jargon that, like anything, loses its meaning if repeated enough times.
From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026
I’d also encourage you to think about what else you can offer besides an empathetic ear.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
“Because Josie and me, we got to hear your answers first, and know what not to say. And besides, my parents told me why there are whatnots. So I have an unfair advantage.”
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
