behind
1 of 3adverb or adjective
be·hind bi-ˈhīnd 
bē-
1
a
: in the place or situation that is being or has been departed from
stay behind
b
: in, to, or toward the back
look behind
came from behind
c
: later in time
can spring be far behind
2
a
: in a secondary or inferior position
b
: in arrears
behind in the rent
c
: slow
3
archaic : still to come
behind
2 of 3preposition
1
a
: in or to a place or situation in back of or to the rear of
look behind you
put behind bars
b
—used as a function word to indicate something that screens an observer
the sun went behind a cloud
c
: following in order
marched behind the band
2
—used as a function word to indicate backwardness, delay, or deficiency
behind the timesbehind schedulelagged behind last year's sales
3
a
: in the background of
the conditions behind the strike
b
: out of the mind or consideration of
put our troubles behind us
c
: beyond in depth or time
the story behind the story
go back behind St. Augustine
4
a
: in support of : on the side of
solidly behind the candidate
b
: with the support of
won 1–0 behind brilliant pitching
behind
3 of 3noun
be·hind ˈbē-ˌhīnd
bi-ˈhīnd,
bē-
: buttocks —often used as a euphemism for ass in idiomatic expressions
get your behind over here
Synonyms
Adverb or adjective
- behindhand
- belated
- delinquent
- late
- latish
- overdue
- tardy
Preposition
- abaft
- back of
Noun
- backside
- booty [slang]
- bootie
- bottom
- breech
- bum
- buns
- butt
- buttocks
- caboose
- can
- cheeks
- derriere
- derrière
- duff
- fanny
- fundament
- hams
- haunches
- heinie [slang]
- hunkers
- keister [slang]
- keester
- nates
- posterior
- rear
- rear end
- rump
- seat
- tail
- tail end
- tush [slang]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Preposition The older students entered the room first with the younger students following behind them. The cat hid behind the couch. The sun went behind a cloud. They were ahead of us by 5 points earlier in the game, but now they're behind us by 7. The polls show that he is behind the other candidates. The company is now behind the competition. He was behind the other students in his studies. Noun kicked him in the behind See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2023 Corporate feminism, with its relentless focus on success, lacked perspective on what might make labor meaningful, or indeed any different from the full-time domestic drudgery that many working women had only just left behind. —Jess Bergman, The New Republic, 20 Feb. 2023 While inspecting the horse tracks the murderous lawmen left behind, he's approached by a young man on horseback. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2023 The pole was one of many artifacts left behind when the smallpox epidemic drove Indigenous people out of their homelands in 1900, according to Snow. —Alaa Elassar, CNN, 19 Feb. 2023 The brand's Natural Almond and Avocado Curl Enhancing Mousse is a lightweight, non-greasy formula that controls frizz while leaving a shiny finish behind. —Harper's BAZAAR, 18 Feb. 2023 From sneakers to hiking boots, no category was left behind. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2023 Without mastery of the quick-moving technology, humans can get left behind. —Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 17 Feb. 2023 All seems well, though, until Christopher grows up, goes to college and becomes a doctor, leaving Pooh and the others behind. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2023 Safid Deen, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2023 Wahl stopped and went behind his back to his left hand to get past Sueing and into the lane. —Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2023 The Trailblazers haven’t lost since, winning the regional and state titles last spring before going unbeaten in the regular season behind the nation’s No. 1 player, Juju Watkins. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2023 In doubles play, the player in the right service position (Team 1 in the diagram below) hits to the opposite corner, serving the ball with an underhand swing below the waist while standing behind the service line. —USA Today, 5 Feb. 2023 The potential move against Trump could motivate donors to line up behind another prospective candidate. —Maggie Haberman, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Feb. 2023 While Texas is leading the pack right now at 7-2 in conference play, Kansas State is only a game behind so a win would give them a portion of the lead. —Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2023 The Producers, a virtual panel with the producers behind this year’s Oscar nominees for Best International Feature Film on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 9:30 a.m. PT. —William Earl, Variety, 3 Feb. 2023 James Mangold, the filmmaker behind Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is reportedly in talks to direct. —Brendan Morrow, The Week, 2 Feb. 2023 Craig Hooper, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023 But, true to form, the unassailable Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce came alive in the fourth quarter, pulling off another come-from-behind touchdown connection that feels more routine than special at this point. —Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2022 Wright scored a 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown on fourth-and-1 with 1:49 to play as the Lions continued their improbable march towards a wild-card spot with a 20-17 come-from-behind win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. —Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2022 Instead, Arizona had three consecutive three and outs and when Los Angeles took over with 1:48 left to play, there was enough time to rally for a come-from-behind win. —Bob Mcmanaman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Nov. 2022 The Golden Eagles got a come-from-behind win at East Limestone on Thursday. —al, 21 Nov. 2022 Brett Kelley's 1-yard plunge put Moeller up 21-0, forcing Mason out of its comfort zone and in come-from-behind mode early in the second quarter. —Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2022 Devin Matthews capped an 11-play, 87-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run and Keegan Vaughan kicked the extra point with 56 seconds left in a come-from-behind win by the visiting Tigers (5-5, 3-4 Colonial Athletic Association). —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 12 Nov. 2022 The Philadelphia Phillies continued their improbable run of victories Friday, besting the Houston Astros in a come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the World Series. —Justin Klawans, The Week, 29 Oct. 2022 See More
Adverb or adjective
For weeks afterward, the air reeked of fruit and vegetables left behind by the merchants. —Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2023 Corporate feminism, with its relentless focus on success, lacked perspective on what might make labor meaningful, or indeed any different from the full-time domestic drudgery that many working women had only just left behind. —Jess Bergman, The New Republic, 20 Feb. 2023 While inspecting the horse tracks the murderous lawmen left behind, he's approached by a young man on horseback. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2023 The pole was one of many artifacts left behind when the smallpox epidemic drove Indigenous people out of their homelands in 1900, according to Snow. —Alaa Elassar, CNN, 19 Feb. 2023 The brand's Natural Almond and Avocado Curl Enhancing Mousse is a lightweight, non-greasy formula that controls frizz while leaving a shiny finish behind. —Harper's BAZAAR, 18 Feb. 2023 From sneakers to hiking boots, no category was left behind. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2023 Without mastery of the quick-moving technology, humans can get left behind. —Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 17 Feb. 2023 All seems well, though, until Christopher grows up, goes to college and becomes a doctor, leaving Pooh and the others behind. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2023 Preposition
Karlaftis finished second behind the 15 ½ sacks provided by star defensive tackle Chris Jones. —Safid Deen, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2023 Wahl stopped and went behind his back to his left hand to get past Sueing and into the lane. —Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2023 The Trailblazers haven’t lost since, winning the regional and state titles last spring before going unbeaten in the regular season behind the nation’s No. 1 player, Juju Watkins. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2023 In doubles play, the player in the right service position (Team 1 in the diagram below) hits to the opposite corner, serving the ball with an underhand swing below the waist while standing behind the service line. —USA Today, 5 Feb. 2023 The potential move against Trump could motivate donors to line up behind another prospective candidate. —Maggie Haberman, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Feb. 2023 While Texas is leading the pack right now at 7-2 in conference play, Kansas State is only a game behind so a win would give them a portion of the lead. —Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2023 The Producers, a virtual panel with the producers behind this year’s Oscar nominees for Best International Feature Film on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 9:30 a.m. PT. —William Earl, Variety, 3 Feb. 2023 James Mangold, the filmmaker behind Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is reportedly in talks to direct. —Brendan Morrow, The Week, 2 Feb. 2023 Noun
Both World War II and the modern-day Ukraine War demonstrate that small leave-behind units are really useful to have. —Craig Hooper, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023 But, true to form, the unassailable Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce came alive in the fourth quarter, pulling off another come-from-behind touchdown connection that feels more routine than special at this point. —Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2022 Wright scored a 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown on fourth-and-1 with 1:49 to play as the Lions continued their improbable march towards a wild-card spot with a 20-17 come-from-behind win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. —Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2022 Instead, Arizona had three consecutive three and outs and when Los Angeles took over with 1:48 left to play, there was enough time to rally for a come-from-behind win. —Bob Mcmanaman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Nov. 2022 The Golden Eagles got a come-from-behind win at East Limestone on Thursday. —al, 21 Nov. 2022 Brett Kelley's 1-yard plunge put Moeller up 21-0, forcing Mason out of its comfort zone and in come-from-behind mode early in the second quarter. —Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2022 Devin Matthews capped an 11-play, 87-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run and Keegan Vaughan kicked the extra point with 56 seconds left in a come-from-behind win by the visiting Tigers (5-5, 3-4 Colonial Athletic Association). —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 12 Nov. 2022 The Philadelphia Phillies continued their improbable run of victories Friday, besting the Houston Astros in a come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the World Series. —Justin Klawans, The Week, 29 Oct. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adverb or adjective
Middle English behinde, from Old English behindan, from be- + hindan from behind; akin to Old English hinder behind — more at hind
Preposition
Middle English behinde, behinden, from behinde, behinden, behind entry 1
Noun
noun derivative of behind entry 1
First Known Use
Adverb Or Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Preposition
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
circa 1830, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing behind
Kids Definition
behind
1 of 2 adverb or adjective be·hind bi-ˈhīnd
1
a
: in a place or time that is being or has been departed from
stay behind
left years of poverty behind
b
: at, to, or toward the back
look behind
fall behind
2
a
: not up to the general level
behind in school
b
: not keeping up to a schedule
behind in the car payments
behind
2 of 2 preposition1
: at, to, or toward the back of
look behind you
a garden behind the house
2
: not up to the level of
sales are behind those of last year
behind the rest of the class
3
a
: in the background of
the reasons behind our success
b
: in support of
we're behind you all the way
behind 1 of 4
preposition
1
as in abaft
at, to, or toward the rear of she preferred to be behind the lead hikers, who were always too much in a rush to enjoy the scenery Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- abaft
- back of
- in back of
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- before
- ahead of
2
as in after
subsequent to in time or order we arrived behind them Synonyms & Similar Words
- after
- following
- below
- past
- since
- next to
- après
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- of
- before
- to
- towards
- prior to
- toward
- previous to
- ahead of
- afore
- ere
behind
2 of 4adverb
as in back
Synonyms & Similar Words
- after
- back
- rearwards
- backwards
- rearward
- backward
- posteriorly
- aft
- astern
- abaft
- sternward
- sternwards
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- forward
- before
- ahead
- fore
- anteriorly
behind
3 of 4adjective
as in delayed
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time the required work was behind, so now we're running late Synonyms & Similar Words
- delayed
- behindhand
- late
- tardy
- delinquent
- slow
- belated
- dragging
- lagging
- overdue
- postponed
- detained
- latish
- dawdling
- laggard
- pokey
- dallying
- dilatory
- sluggish
- unhurried
- dillydallying
- poky
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- early
- premature
- untimely
- precocious
- opportune
- inopportune
- timely
- prompt
- unseasonable
- seasonable
- punctual
behind
4 of 4noun
as in seat
the part of the body upon which someone sits cleaned the baby's behind Synonyms & Similar Words
- seat
- tail
- bum
- cheeks
- bottom
- rear
- backside
- rump
- rear end
- posterior
- tail end
- can
- fundament
- hunkers
- butt
- duff
- caboose
- fanny
- buns
- buttocks
- haunches
- breech
- beam
- derriere
- heinie
- tush
- stern
- keister
- nates
- booty
- hams
- derrière
- keester
- bootie
- moon
Phrases Containing behind
- the pokey
- the Pole Star
- the pole vault
- the Polish
- the polls
- the poor
- the populace
- the Portuguese
- the possessive
- the Post Office
- the Postal Service
- the pot
- the potty
- the pound
- the poverty line
- the power behind the throne
- the powers that be
- the present
- the present day
- the present perfect
- the present writer
- the press
- the previous couple of
- the priesthood
- the prime meridian