lie behind

verb

lay behind; lain behind; lying behind; lies behind
: to be the cause of (something)
Greed lies behind the higher prices.

Browse Nearby Words

lie back
lie behind
liebenerite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lie behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20behind. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deem

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Why do we say 'make a beeline'?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

Why do we say 'make a beeline'?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-628f89ac49496
What’s on the Menu? Sink your teeth into these questions about food.
See All