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.
Origin of behind
before 900;Middle Englishbehinde(n), Old Englishbehindan; for adv. suffix -an cf. before. See be-, hind1
Synonym study
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.
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
informalthe buttocks
Australian rules footballa 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)
Old English behindan "behind, after," from bi "by" + hindan "from behind" (see hind (adj.)). The prepositional sense emerged in Old English. Euphemistic noun meaning "backside of a person" is from 1786. Phrase behind the times is from 1905. Behind the scenes (1711) is from the theater; figurative sense attested by 1779.
