Synonyms of behind

behind 1 of 4

preposition

1

as in back of

at, to, or toward the rear of

she preferred to be behind the lead hikers, who were always too much in a rush to enjoy the scenery

Synonyms & Similar Words

• back of
• in back of
• abaft

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• before
• ahead of

2

as in after

subsequent to in time or order

we arrived behind them

Synonyms & Similar Words

• after
• following
• below
• past
• since
• après
• next to

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• of
• before
• to
• prior to
• previous to
• ahead of
• toward
• afore
• ere

behind

2 of 4

adverb

as in back

Related Words

• after
• back
• rearward
• backward
• posteriorly
• aft
• astern
• abaft
• sternward

Dissimilar Words

• forward
• before
• ahead
• fore
• anteriorly

behind

3 of 4

adjective

bi-ˈhīnd 

as in delayed

not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time

the required work was behind, so now we're running late

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delayed
• late
• delinquent
• tardy
• behindhand
• belated
• slow
• overdue
• dragging
• postponed
• lagging
• latish
• detained
• laggard
• dilatory
• sluggish
• unhurried
• poky
• dawdling
• dallying
• dillydallying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• early
• premature
• untimely
• precocious
• opportune
• timely
• inopportune
• prompt
• unseasonable
• seasonable
• punctual

behind

4 of 4

noun

ˈbē-ˌhīnd 

as in seat

the part of the body upon which someone sits

cleaned the baby's behind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seat
• tail
• cheeks
• bum
• bottom
• rear
• rump
• backside
• rear end
• posterior
• tail end
• butt
• fundament
• caboose
• can
• buns
• buttocks
• duff
• beam
• haunches
• breech
• fanny
• hunkers
• stern
• booty
• nates
• hams
• tush
• heinie
• derriere
• keister
• moon

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of behind

Preposition

From behind, the swimsuit boasted a high-cut thong design, Berry’s cut of choice thus far on the summer trip. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026

The Related Group, BH Group and PEBB Enterprises are the developers behind the Quay project. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026

Adverb

Stevens lags behind in key polls, including an Emerson College poll released July 30 that shows El-Sayed up by 16 points. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026

For borrowers who have already fallen significantly behind and can't realistically repay their balances in full, a debt settlement program may be another option. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Adjective

The chefs are running super-behind, so service is slow. — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026

Like the scrappy bird in their nickname, the tenacious Toronto Blue Jays have clawed their way to 45 come-from-behind victories – most in the major leagues – and 87 overall, tops in the American League with under two weeks left in the 2025 campaign. — Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Noun

Green Dot has been handed a new group of far-behind students every single year. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Following a behind-schedule and over-budget redevelopment by Transport for London, the roundabout was replaced last year with a byzantine road and cycle lane layout which, peppered with traffic lights, causes constant congestion in the area. — Ian King, CNBC, 10 June 2026

Phrases Containing behind

• behind bars
• drop behind
• fall behind
• wet behind the ears