behind

[ bih-hahynd ]

/ bɪˈhaɪnd /

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See synonyms for behind on Thesaurus.com

preposition

at or toward the rear of: Look behind the house.

not keeping up with, later than; after: behind schedule.

in the state of making less progress than: We can't afford to fall behind our competitors.

on the farther side of; beyond: behind the mountain.

originating, supporting, or promoting: Who's behind this program?

hidden or unrevealed by: Malice lay behind her smile.

at the controls of: behind the wheel of a car.

adverb

at or toward the rear; rearward: to lag behind.

in a place, state, or stage already passed.

in arrears; behindhand: to be behind in one's rent.

slow, as a watch or clock: more than 20 minutes behind.

as a cause or often latent feature of: Behind their harassment lay the traditional fear of foreigners.

in a situation that exists afterward: The victim left behind a large family.

Archaic. in reserve; to come: Greater support is yet behind.

adjective

following: the man behind.

noun

Informal. the buttocks.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of behind

before 900; Middle English behinde(n), Old English behindan; for adv. suffix -ancf. before. See be-, hind¹

synonym study for behind

1, 2. 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.

usage note for behind

See back¹.

Words nearby behind

beheld, behemoth, behenic, behenic acid, behest, behind, behind bars, behind closed doors, behindhand, behind in, behind someone's back

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use behind in a sentence

Have you tried to access the research that your tax dollars finance, almost all of which is kept behind a paywall?
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Not to be left behind, progressives in neighboring Wisconsin clamored to join the cutting edge of public health.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
I think a lot of it has to do with the attitude and the energy behind it and the honesty.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical|Stereo Williams|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Other major news outlets made the same decision, hiding behind a misplaced sense of multicultural sensitivity.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too|John Avlon|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Prosecutors wanted him to spend at least 10 years behind bars.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv|Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
More soldiers crowded into the cave and Professor-Commander Krafft came in behind them.
Sense of Obligation|Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)
In treble, second and fourth, the first change is a dodge behind; and the second time the treble leads, there's a double Bob.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
The Seven-score and four on the six middle Bells, the treble leading, and the tenor lying behind every change, makes good Musick.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
I seized the opportunity to watch what I supposed would be a most interesting interview, from behind a curtain.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for behind

behind

/ (bɪˈhaɪnd) /

preposition

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

in the past in relation toI've got the exams behind me now

late according to; not keeping up withrunning behind schedule

concerning the circumstances surroundingthe reasons behind his departure

backing or supportingI'm right behind you in your application

adverb

in or to a position further back; following

remaining after someone's departurehe left it behind

in debt; in arrearsto fall behind with payments

adjective

(postpositive) in a position further back; retardedthe man behind prodded me

noun

informal the buttocks

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)

Word Origin for behind

Old English behindan

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with behind

behind

In addition to the idioms beginning with behind

behind bars
behind closed doors
behind in
behind someone's back
behind the eight ball
behind the scenes
behind the times
behind time

also see:

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

behind

Origin of behind

synonym study for behind

usage note for behind

Words nearby behind

Words related to behind

How to use behind in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for behind

Word Origin for behind

Other Idioms and Phrases with behind