alongside

alongside — preposition

1. in a position right by the side of someone or something, often parallel to it.

1.prepositionB2
Definition

in a position right by the side of someone or something, often parallel to it.

Example

Eitan parked her bicycle alongside the wooden fence outside the bakery.

spatial: alongside + physical object

The fishing boat sailed slowly alongside the harbour wall.

alongside + structure (parallel motion)

Common collocations
  • park alongside
  • sail alongside
  • walk alongside
  • lie alongside
  • built alongside
Synonyms
  • beside

    more general; works with any object, including small items on a table

  • next to

    neutral and slightly more informal; the everyday spoken choice

  • abreast of

    formal; stresses being level with something while moving

Antonyms
  • away from

    describes distance rather than closeness

Grammar Patterns

alongside + noun phrase

Usage Note

The object must be a concrete noun that has a side, edge, or length — boats, walls, roads, rivers, vehicles, or a person walking. Avoid using this spatial sense with abstract nouns; for that, use sense 2.

Common Mistakes

She parked alongside of the truck.
She parked alongside the truck.
'alongside' takes a direct object; do not add 'of' after it in standard usage.

2. working or existing with another person or thing as a partner, or happening in a

2.prepositionB2
Definition

working or existing with another person or thing as a partner, or happening in addition to something else.

Example

Dr. Saoirse worked alongside the village nurses for over twenty years.

work alongside + people (partnership)

The new safety rules will be introduced alongside the staff training programme.

alongside = in addition to / at the same time as

Common collocations
  • work alongside
  • fight alongside
  • play alongside
  • exist alongside
  • introduced alongside
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

work alongside + person

alongside + noun (in addition to)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is figurative and pairs with people, jobs, programmes, or services rather than physical locations. The pattern 'work alongside someone' is the most frequent collocation.

Common Mistakes

I learned alongside with my brother.
I learned alongside my brother.
'alongside' already means 'together with', so adding 'with' is redundant.

alongside — adverb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: preposition/2

All four can join two ideas, but they differ in how equal the partners are. 'Alongside' suggests two parties working in parallel as partners, often with each keeping its own role — a doctor working alongside nurses, a new rule introduced alongside training. 'Together with' is more neutral and simply joins two items, with no special idea of partnership; it works for objects, people, and ideas equally. 'In addition to' shifts focus onto the extra thing being added, often signalling that the second item is less central. 'With' is the everyday choice and the least specific. Compare: 'She trains alongside the national team' (peer-level partner) vs 'She trains with the national team' (just joining them).

alongside ↗together with ↗in addition towith ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • alongside the road
  • alongside the river
  • alongside the wall
  • alongside the team

Phrases

  • work alongside someone
  • live alongside something
  • exist alongside
  • fight alongside
  • pull alongside

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Built in English in the late 1700s by joining 'along' (a very old word meaning 'lengthwise') with 'side'. It first appeared in nautical writing to describe one ship lying next to another, then spread into general use for anything close and parallel. The figurative 'working with someone' meaning grew in the 20th century, especially in business and team contexts.