behind

[bih-hahynd] /bɪˈhaɪnd/
preposition
1.
at or toward the rear of:
Look behind the house.
2.
not keeping up with, later than; after:
behind schedule.
3.
in the state of making less progress than:
We can't afford to fall behind our competitors.
4.
on the farther side of; beyond:
behind the mountain.
5.
originating, supporting, or promoting:
Who's behind this program?
6.
hidden or unrevealed by:
Malice lay behind her smile.
7.
at the controls of:
behind the wheel of a car.
adverb
8.
at or toward the rear; rearward:
to lag behind.
9.
in a place, state, or stage already passed.
10.
in arrears; behindhand:
to be behind in one's rent.
11.
slow, as a watch or clock:
more than 20 minutes behind.
12.
as a cause or often latent feature of:
Behind their harassment lay the traditional fear of foreigners.
13.
in a situation that exists afterward:
The victim left behind a large family.
14.
Archaic. in reserve; to come:
Greater support is yet behind.
adjective
15.
following:
the man behind.
noun
16.
Informal. the buttocks.
Origin
before 900; Middle English behinde(n), Old English behindan; for adv. suffix -an cf. before. See be-, hind1
Synonyms
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
See back1.
Examples from the web for behind
  • Many evolutionists support some version of intelligence behind all the complexity and design in the world.
  • The dishes are exquisite enough for any dinner party, and there's usually a good reason behind the extra effort and ingredients.
  • The idea behind two-tier wage programs is to stretch out the progression between tenure and wages.
  • Today you cannot order a coffee, buy a bagel, or pay for a photocopy without being asked to leave your change behind for.
  • Parking is concentrated alongside curbs, in lots behind shops, and in garages off rear alleys.
  • Satellite data look behind the scenes of deadly earthquake.
  • There is some controversy over who first placed parabolic mirrors behind flames to boost candlepower.
  • The rain and weird weather has put our barley behind schedule.
  • The science behind moving species under threat from climate change.
  • The story behind it is that some families had difficulty with speech.
British Dictionary definitions for behind

behind

/bɪˈhaɪnd/
preposition
1.
in or to a position further back than; at the rear of; at the back of
2.
in the past in relation to: I've got the exams behind me now
3.
late according to; not keeping up with: running behind schedule
4.
concerning the circumstances surrounding: the reasons behind his departure
5.
backing or supporting: I'm right behind you in your application
adverb
6.
in or to a position further back; following
7.
remaining after someone's departure: he left it behind
8.
in debt; in arrears: to fall behind with payments
adjective
9.
(postpositive) in a position further back; retarded: the man behind prodded me
noun
10.
(informal) the buttocks
11.
(Australian rules football) a 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)
Word Origin
Old English behindan
Word Origin and History for behind
adv.

Old English behindan "behind, after," from bi "by" + hindan "from behind" (see hind (adj.)). The prepositional sense emerged in Old English. Euphemistic noun meaning "backside of a person" is from 1786. Phrase behind the times is from 1905. Behind the scenes (1711) is from the theater; figurative sense attested by 1779.

Slang definitions & phrases for behind

behind

noun

The buttocks; rump; ass: her broad, plain face, absence of waistline, and enormously broad behind (1830+)


Idioms and Phrases with behind

behind

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