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

Valicenti scored the lone goal for the Bishops in the third quarter, with an overhand shot after a feed from Maggie Shea behind the net. —Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026

So what’s behind all of these vacancies? —Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026

Adverb

The work was behind, although exactly by how much is unclear. —Thad Moore, AJC.com, 27 May 2026

Scientists can target specific minerals left behind by keeping the waste solid. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026

Adjective

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

Buffalo entered Saturday with 19 come-from-behind wins, tied for seventh in the NHL. —ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026

The Kansas City Current’s feel-good, come-from-behind home victory to open the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season feels like ages ago. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing behind

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