behind

[bih-hahynd]

preposition

1. at or toward the rear of.

   Look behind the house.

2. not keeping up with, later than; after.

   behind schedule.

3. in the state of making less progress than.

   We can't afford to fall behind our competitors.

4. on the farther side of; beyond.

   behind the mountain.

5. originating, supporting, or promoting.

   Who's behind this program?

6. hidden or unrevealed by.

   Malice lay behind her smile.

7. at the controls of.

   behind the wheel of a car.

adverb

1. at or toward the rear; rearward.

   to lag behind.

2. in a place, state, or stage already passed.

3. in arrears; behindhand.

   to be behind in one's rent.

4. slow, as a watch or clock.

   more than 20 minutes behind.

5. as a cause or often latent feature of.

   Behind their harassment lay the traditional fear of foreigners.

6. in a situation that exists afterward.

   The victim left behind a large family.

7. Archaic.,  in reserve; to come.

   Greater support is yet behind.

adjective

1. following.

   the man behind.

noun

1. Informal.,  the buttocks.

behind

/ bɪˈhaɪnd /

preposition

1. in or to a position further back than; at the rear of; at the back of

2. in the past in relation to

   I've got the exams behind me now

3. late according to; not keeping up with

   running behind schedule

4. concerning the circumstances surrounding

   the reasons behind his departure

5. backing or supporting

   I'm right behind you in your application

adverb

1. in or to a position further back; following

2. remaining after someone's departure

   he left it behind

3. in debt; in arrears

   to fall behind with payments

adjective

1. (postpositive) in a position further back; retarded

   the man behind prodded me

noun

1. informal,  the buttocks

2. Australian rules football a score of one point made by kicking the ball over the behind line between a goalpost and one of the smaller outer posts ( behind posts )

Usage

See back ¹.

Word History and Origins

Origin of behind¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English behinde(n), Old English behindan; equivalent to be- + hind ¹; for adverb suffix -an, before

Word History and Origins

Origin of behind¹

Old English behindan

Idioms and Phrases

• come from behind
• drop behind
• fall behind
• get behind
• power behind the throne
• put behind one
• wet behind the ears
• with one arm tied behind one's back

Synonym Study

Behind, after both refer to a position following something else. Behind applies primarily to position in space, and suggests that one person or thing is at the back of another; it may also refer to (a fixed) time: He stood behind the chair. You are behind the appointed time. After applies primarily to time; when it denotes position in space, it is not used with precision, and refers usually to bodies in motion: Rest after a hard day's work. They entered the room, one after another.

Example Sentences

One of two men accused of plotting to kill Jewish people in Manchester "hero-worshipped" the man behind the 2015 Paris attack in which 130 people were killed, a court has heard.

Read more on BBC

An Indian teenager behind mobile tools to monitor water quality won a United Nations-backed youth activist prize on Thursday, alongside other young people lauded for using technology to drive positive change.

Read more on Barron's

Delta reported strong profits Thursday and offered a bullish outlook on travel demand behind rising activity among corporate customers.

Read more on Barron's

“Using the wrong index means Social Security benefits aren’t keeping up, and seniors are falling behind.”

Read more on MarketWatch

What began as a narrow, tech-driven rally has steadily broadened in 2025, pulling in sectors and stocks that had previously lagged behind or missed out entirely.

Read more on MarketWatch