1
general::
Phrase(s): next to someone or something
near to someone or something; adjacent to someone or something. • I live next to a bank. • Please sit next to me.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
next to
preposition very close to someone or something, with no other person, building, place etc in between:
• I sat next to him at dinner. • The hotel was right next to the airport.
beside
preposition next to the side of someone or something:
• Ella came and sat down beside me. • They were sitting beside the pool.
by
preposition next to something – often used about being very close to a window, door, or the edge of something such as an area of water:
• I saw him standing by the window. • Weymouth is a pretty little town by the sea. • She lives by the river.
next door
adverb in the building or room next to yours, or next to another one:
• The house next door is much bigger than ours. • Have you met the people who’ve just moved in next door?
alongside
adverb , preposition close to the side of something, especially a river, railway, boat, or vehicle:
• I decided to take the path alongside the railway track. • A police car pulled up alongside.
adjacent
adjective , adverb formal a building, room, or piece of land that is adjacent to another one is next to it:
• They walked through a rose garden adjacent to the hospital. • The blaze spread to two adjacent buildings.
adjoining
adjective formal an adjoining room, building, or piece of land is one that is next to another one and is joined to it:
• We had adjoining rooms at the hotel.
Longman-Thesaurus
3
general::
1. Adjacent to, as in The car next to mine has a flat tire. [Late 1300s] 2. Following in order or degree, as in Next to skiing, she likes hiking. [Early 1500s] 3. Almost, practically, as in It's next to impossible to predict the outcome, or I earned next to nothing last year. [Second half of 1600s]
American Heritage Idioms