behind

¹be·hind

adverb or adjective \bi-ˈhīnd, bē-\

Definition of BEHIND

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

Origin of BEHIND

Middle English behinde, from Old English behindan, from be- + hindan from behind; akin to Old English hinder behind — more at hind

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with BEHIND

affined, confined, fly blind, inclined, in-kind, mankind, month's mind, night-blind, purblind, refined, remind, rewind, sand-blind, snow-blind, spellbind, stone-blind, streamlined, unbind, unkind, unwind

²behind

preposition

Definition of BEHIND

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 times> <behind schedule> <lagged 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>

Examples of BEHIND

1. The older students entered the room first with the younger students following behind them.
2. The cat hid behind the couch.
3. The sun went behind a cloud.
4. They were ahead of us by 5 points earlier in the game, but now they're behind us by 7.
5. The polls show that he is behind the other candidates.
6. The company is now behind the competition.
7. He was behind the other students in his studies.

First Known Use of BEHIND

before 12th century

Related to BEHIND

Synonyms

abaft, back of, in back of

Antonyms

before

Related Words

since

Near Antonyms

ahead of

³be·hind

noun \ˈbē-ˌhīnd; bi-ˈhīnd, bē-\

Definition of BEHIND

: buttocks —often used as a euphemism for ass in idiomatic expressions <get your behind over here>

Examples of BEHIND

1. kicked him in the behind

Origin of BEHIND

¹behind

First Known Use: circa 1830

Related to BEHIND

Synonyms

backside, buttocks, booty (also bootie) [slang], bottom, breech, bum, buns, butt, caboose, can, cheeks, derriere (or derrière), duff, fanny, fundament, hams, haunches, heinie [slang], hunkers, keister (also keester) [slang], nates, posterior, rear, rear end, rump, seat, tail, tail end, tush [slang]

Related Words

beam, stern; moon [slang]