behind

1 of 3

adverb or adjective

be·​hind bi-ˈhīnd 

bē-

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

behind

2 of 3

preposition

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

behind

3 of 3

noun

be·​hind ˈbē-ˌhīnd  bi-ˈhīnd 

bē-

: buttocks

—often used as a euphemism for ass in idiomatic expressions

get your behind over here

Synonyms

Adverb or adjective

• delayed
• late
• delinquent

Preposition

• back of
• in back of

Noun

• seat
• tail
• cheeks
• bum
• bottom
• rear
• rump
• backside

Examples of behind in a Sentence

Adverb or adjective

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

Preposition

The older students entered the room first with the younger students following behind them.

The cat hid behind the couch.

The sun went behind a cloud.

They were ahead of us by 5 points earlier in the game, but now they're behind us by 7.

The polls show that he is behind the other candidates.

The company is now behind the competition.

He was behind the other students in his studies.

Noun

kicked him in the behind

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb or adjective

On two occasions in recent months, the Oakland City Council has had the opportunity to leave ABC behind and award the contract to Allied Universal, the world’s largest private security provider. —Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025

Falling behind for the fourth straight game to begin the season, the Ducks could not rally for a third consecutive victory, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1, on Thursday night at the Honda Center. —Josh Gross, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025

Preposition

He’s been sacked 25 times playing behind one of the more porous offensive lines in the NFL. —Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025

The grassroots movement behind EU–INC has garnered over 18,000 signatories and support from Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors, including leaders from Mistral, DeepMind, Stripe, Supercell, Index Ventures and Y Combinator. —Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025

Noun

To make budgetary room for this bold endeavor, the duo advocated cutting the behind-schedule and over-budget Space Launch System (SLS), the super-heavy lift rocket intended to take astronauts back to the Moon with the Artemis program. —Big Think, 15 Oct. 2025

Those victories have been followed with a come-from-behind, 41-38 win at Miami (Ohio), a good 31-17 win at Wyoming and another comeback, a 51-48 win at Air Force in which the Falcons missed a game-tying field goal as time expired. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

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

Preposition

Middle English behinde, behinden, from behinde, behinden, behind entry 1

Noun

noun derivative of behind entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1830, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing behind

• behind bars
• behind closed doors
• behind enemy lines
• behind/off schedule
• behind one's back
• behind schedule
• behind someone's back
• behind the curve
• behind the eight ball
• behind the scenes
• behind the times
• behind the wheel
• drop behind
• fall behind
• get behind
• get behind the wheel
• leave the past behind
• lie behind
• put (something) behind (oneself)
• put/throw one's weight/influence behind
• rally for/behind
• run behind schedule
• stand behind
• stay behind
• the idea behind
• the power behind the throne
• trail (along) behind/after
• went behind his back
• wet behind the ears

Rhymes for behind

• aligned
• alined
• assigned
• combined
• confined
• consigned
• declined
• defined
• designed
• divined
• enshrined
• entwined

Kids Definition

behind

1 of 2 adverb or adjective

be·​hind bi-ˈhīnd 

1

a

: in a place or time that is being or has been departed from

stay behind

left years of poverty behind

b

: at, to, or toward the back

look behind

fall behind

2

a

: not up to the general level

behind in school

b

: not keeping up to a schedule

behind in the car payments

behind

2 of 2 preposition

1

: at, to, or toward the back of

look behind you

a garden behind the house

2

: not up to the level of

sales are behind those of last year

behind the rest of the class

3

a

: in the background of

the reasons behind our success

b

: in support of

we're behind you all the way