lie behind
phrasal verb
lay behind; lain behind; lying behind; lies behind
: to be the cause of (something)
Greed lies behind the higher prices.
Examples of lie behind in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For Avraham Burg, an author and former speaker of Israel’s parliament who has become a prominent critic, what lies behind this state of denial in many Jewish Israelis goes far beyond media influence.
—
Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Still, the elephant in the room remains the People’s Party’s attitude toward Thailand’s sacrosanct monarchy, since reform of Article 112 lay behind Move Forward’s dissolution.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
The notable pedigree also lies behind the camera.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Everyone has a slightly different definition of dark academia, but Possession left me with a strong attachment to stories where making sense of writing from the past, and uncovering what lies behind it, are central to the story.
—Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie behind
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Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Still, the elephant in the room remains the People’s Party’s attitude toward Thailand’s sacrosanct monarchy, since reform of Article 112 lay behind Move Forward’s dissolution.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
The notable pedigree also lies behind the camera.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Everyone has a slightly different definition of dark academia, but Possession left me with a strong attachment to stories where making sense of writing from the past, and uncovering what lies behind it, are central to the story.
—Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie behind
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Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lie behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20behind. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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