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

So did a woman behind them wearing a foam Statue of Liberty headband, Isabelle noticed, and a man in a Rip Curl cap, and another in tactical shades, and another with a Canon camera dangling around his neck. — Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Someone using your name or personal information may try to start service, change an account or leave an unpaid balance behind. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Adverb

Everything came to a head in the third quarter, as Arch Manning was hit from behind while trying to also complete a pass. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Prada is now on ChatGPT If the devil wears Prada, then OpenAI isn’t far behind. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026

Adjective

The chefs are running super-behind, so service is slow. — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026

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

Shortsleeve sits well-behind Minogue and Healey, with just $602,051 in cash on hand. — Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026

Green Dot has been handed a new group of far-behind students every single year. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Phrases Containing behind

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