alongside

/əˈlɒŋ.saɪd/
next to or beside something

She walked alongside her friend to the park.

She walked next to her friend to the park.


formalinformal

Next to or beside something or someone

The ship sailed alongside the coast.

The ship sailed next to the coast.

He placed the book alongside the others on the shelf.

He placed the book next to the others on the shelf.

Can be used both literally and figuratively to describe physical proximity or association.

Collocations

alongside ofnext to or beside (less common variant)alongside withtogether with (less common variant)

Related Phrases

side by sidephrase
next to each other
hand in handphrase
together in a supportive or affectionate way

Pro Tip

Common Usage

'Alongside' is often used in both formal and informal contexts to describe physical proximity or association.

Gold Rule

Prepositional Use

'Alongside' can function as a preposition, meaning it does not require an additional preposition like 'of' or 'with'.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'along' + 'side', meaning 'by the side of'.

Usage Notes

Often used to describe physical proximity, but can also be used metaphorically to describe association or partnership.

Word Breakdown

along
in a line or direction
prefix
+
side
the outer edge or surface of something
suffix
English Dictionary