preposition | adverb | noun
behindbehind1 /bɪˈhaɪnd/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1
at or toward the back of something: He sat behind me. Is that your shoe behind the couch? the mountains behind the city I was driving behind a truck on the freeway. I turned around and she was right behind (=very close behind) me.2not as successful or not having made as much progress as someone or something else: The Rams were 21 points behind the Falcons. Mark’s behind the rest of the class in his reading. American manufacturers are falling behind (=becoming less and less successful than) their global competitors.3late in doing something: Interstate 880 opened Tuesday, three months behind schedule.4supporting a person, idea, etc.: Congress appears to be firmly behind the president on this issue.5responsible for a plan, idea, etc. or for organizing something: The police believe a local gang is behind the killings. The Chamber of Commerce is behind this year’s fund-raising dinner.6if an experience or situation is behind you, you are not taking part in it anymore, or it does not upset you or affect your life anymore: Ronstadt’s days as a rock star are behind her, for now. The victim wants to put this behind her and get on with her life.7if a reason, experience, fact, etc. is behind something, it is the reason why something exists or why it has happened: It’s interesting to learn the history behind the buildings. What’s behind Cooper’s opposition to the changes? The article examines the factors that lie behind the country’s economic problems.8if you have experience behind you, you have learned valuable skills or gotten important qualities that can be used: Gutierrez has years of experience behind her.9used when the real facts about a situation or someone’s character are hidden by the way things seem or by the way a person behaves: Behind his gruff exterior, she finds a sweet soul. the truth behind the mystery [Origin: Old English behindan, from hindan from behind] → see also behind somebody’s back at back2 (8), behind bars at bar1 (8) preposition | adverb | noun
behindbehind2 ●●● S1 W1 adverb 1at or toward the back of something: Anderson was in the lead, but several other runners followed close behind.2be/get/fall behind a)to be late or slow in doing something: He’s always been a little bit behind developmentally.behind with something We’re already three months behind with the rent.behind in something Many UN member states are behind in their dues. b)to be less successful than other people, or not make as much progress: The Bruins fell behind in the first quarter.behind in something She has been falling further and further behind in school.3stay/remain behind to stay in a place when other people have left it or gone somewhere else: You go ahead – I’ll stay behind and wait for Harry.4leave something behind to leave something in a place where you were before or in a place after an event: The beach was covered with litter left behind by the storm. The movie is about a boy left behind by his family. preposition | adverb | noun
behindbehind3 noun [countable] informal a word used to mean your buttocks when you want to be polite SYN bottom