Alongside: meaning, definitions and examples

Describes being side by side with something or someone, often suggesting cooperation or comparison.

• She walked alongside him during the parade
• The new product was developed alongside the old one

Indicates being directly next to something or someone, often used for physical proximity.

• My cat sits beside me when I work
• There is a lamp beside the bed

Used to indicate very close proximity, often interchangeable with 'beside' but can imply even closer adjacency.

• She parked her car next to mine
• The coffee shop is next to the bookstore

Describes two things running side by side with equal distance between them, often used in geometrical or planning contexts.

• The road runs parallel to the river
• Her career path has been parallel to her father's

Used when something is positioned in close proximity to another thing, often in a supportive or cooperative manner. Common in formal or professional contexts.

• The new park will be built alongside the river.
• The two companies will work alongside each other on this project.

Often descriptive of physical position, used to indicate that something is next to or close to another item.

• She sat beside her friend during the movie.
• The coffee machine is right beside the fridge.

Common in everyday language, used to indicate direct proximity or adjacency to something.

• I parked my car next to the supermarket.
• We planted the flowers next to the fence.

Used in a more technical or descriptive sense, indicating that two things are aligned and equidistant along their lengths but do not touch.

• The railway runs parallel to the highway.
• Draw a line parallel to the base of the triangle.