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 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
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
He later accepted a plea deal that put him behind bars for 25 years.
An Informant, a Missing American, and Juarez’s House of Death: Inside the 12-Year Cold Case of David Castro|Bill Conroy|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He finished second in 2008 behind John McCain, and maintains a reservoir of good will among Republican social conservatives.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
American spies have detailed dossiers on the North Koreans who the U.S. says were behind the Sony attack.
U.S. Spies Say They Tracked ‘Sony Hackers’ For Years|Shane Harris|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Finally, he takes us behind the scenes into how Obama came out in favor of marriage equality that same year.
The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality|E.J. Graff|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It has no power, but perhaps you could tow it behind your launch.
Roy Blakeley|Percy Keese Fitzhugh
The girl who watched them breathlessly from behind the roses clutched her hands over her heart.
Pretty Madcap Dorothy|Laura Jean Libbey
They had not gone more than a dozen yards when a shot rang out from behind a tree, and a bullet whizzed past over their heads.
Linda Carlton's Island Adventure|Edith Lavell
But Jeanne Rouanns, now standing just behind him, remained silent.
The Red Cross Barge|Marie Belloc Lowndes
They continued on their way, with the second company just behind them.
In The Saddle|Oliver Optic
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
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)