Origin of behind

before 900; Middle English behinde(n), Old English behindan; for adv. suffix -an cf. 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, behind in, behind someone's back, behind the eight ball
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to behind

trailing, laggard, slow, behindhand, bottom, backside, posterior, seat, tail, tush, can, fundament, rump, fanny, rear, breech, causing, backing, supporting, abaft

Example sentences from the Web for behind

British Dictionary definitions for behind

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

Idioms and Phrases with behind

behind
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.