alongside

American  

[uh-lawng-sahyd, uh-long-] / əˈlɔŋˈsaɪd, əˈlɒŋ- /

adverb

1. along, by, at, or to the side of something.

   We brought the boat alongside.

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preposition

1. beside; by the side of.

   The dog ran alongside me all the way.

2. Informal. alongside of, compared with.

   Alongside of his brother, he is no student at all.

alongside British  

/ əˈlɒŋˌsaɪd /

preposition

1. (often foll by of) along the side of; along beside

   alongside the quay

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adverb

1. along the side of some specified thing

   come alongside

Etymology

Origin of alongside

First recorded in 1700–10; along + side ¹

Explanation

Use the adverb alongside when two things are right next to each other, like a boat and a dock or a hunter and her loyal dog. If you pull up alongside your friend's car in a parking lot, it means that you've parked directly beside it. Alongside can also imply cooperation, as when a baker's assistant works alongside him, kneading dough and wiping flour off the counter. Alongside was once a phrase, either "along side" or "along the side," both primarily used in a nautical sense, to talk about boats. In the 1700s it became a single word.

Example Sentences

S&P500 and Nasdaq futures indexes each edged higher early Tuesday, by 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively alongside cryptos, which tend to reflect broad risk appetite.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

This, naturally, is all emerging alongside a growing panic about how little most kids are reading.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

On Monday, the mayor appeared alongside Police Chief Jim McDonnell, offering new details on increased patrols.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

At the same time, Disney is brusquely cross-promoting their other titles alongside the film at every opportunity, pursuing the two words every advertising exec dreams of: brand synergy.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

The snow alongside the trail was about two feet deep and powdery and it followed her in a white shower that covered everything.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen