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

That elevated arrival is exactly the idea behind a relatively new route from Aero. —Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2026

Film Independent said Tuesday that Juan Devis, the producer and former chief creative officer at the Los Angeles media company behind public broadcasters PBS SoCal and KCET, has been named president of the nonprofit arts organization. —Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026

Adverb

Unfortunately, right behind was an eastward-moving storm system. —Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026

Panama follows closely behind, taking third place. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

Adjective

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

And, as the Broadway League reminds, weekly grosses and attendance numbers reflect tickets sold, not tickets scanned or actual behinds in seats. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026

Season-long issues covering matchup-threat tight ends bit them squarely in the behind in the second half, as Buffalo's Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox combined for 81 second-half yards. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026

Phrases Containing behind

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