behind
preposition /bɪˈhaɪnd/
/bɪˈhaɪnd/
- Who's the girl standing behind Jan?
- Stay close behind me.
- a small street behind the station
- She glanced behind her.
- Don't forget to lock the door behind you (= when you leave).
- The sun disappeared behind the clouds.
Which Word? at the back / at the rear / behindat the back / at the rear / behindcompare in front of- At the back and at the rear have a similar meaning, but at the rear is used more in formal or official language: What’s that at the back of the fridge?Smoking is only allowed at the rear of the aircraft. It is more usual to talk about the back door of a house but the rear exit of an aircraft or public building. If something is behind something else it is near to the back of it but not part of it. Compare: Our room was at the back of the hotel and There’s a lovely wood just behind our hotel.
- He's behind the rest of the class in reading.
- We're behind schedule (= late).
- She knew that, whatever she decided, her family was right behind her.
- responsible for starting or developing something
- What's behind that happy smile (= what is causing it)?
- He was the man behind the plan to build a new hospital.
- used to say that something is in somebody’s past
- The accident is behind you now, so try to forget it.
- She has ten years' useful experience behind her.
Word OriginOld English behindan, bihindan, from bi ‘by’ + hindan ‘from behind’.