"Next to" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that one object or person is located immediately beside or adjacent to another. For example, if a chair is next to a table, it means the chair is positioned right beside the table without any significant distance between them. This phrase can also describe relationships or comparisons. For instance, saying that Alice is next to Bob in a line means Alice is standing directly beside Bob. Similarly, in a ranking context, if a movie is next to another in popularity, it suggests that the two are closely related in terms of their ranking or status.