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

Harrowing images have captured the devastation left behind by the historic floods which downed trees, washed away homes and left roads underwater. —Hannah Parry amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025

Otherwise, companies will risk getting left behind. —Muqsit Ashraf, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Preposition

After falling behind 3-and-0 to Brice Turang, Yamamoto worked the count full only to miss badly with a fastball and issue an inning-extending walk. —Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025

This piece from Matt Simon digging into the science behind the catastrophic Texas floods makes the abstract plain, while this disaster preparedness kit offers practical advice. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025

Noun

Due to the ongoing gang violence and kidnappings, many children emigrated to the U.S. with one parent, leaving the other behind. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025

Why Contacts Cause Dry Eyes Wearing contact lenses splits the tear film of your eyes into two layers, one in front of the contact and the other behind. —Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 26 Apr. 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