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Behind - 7 dictionary results

be⋅hind

  [bi-hahynd]
Use Behind in a Sentence
–preposition
1. at or toward the rear of: Look behind the house.
2. not keeping up with, later than; after: behind schedule.
3. in the state of making less progress than: We can't afford to fall behind our competitors.
4. on the farther side of; beyond: behind the mountain.
5. originating, supporting, or promoting: Who's behind this program?
6. hidden or unrevealed by: Malice lay behind her smile.
7. at the controls of: behind the wheel of a car.
–adverb
8. at or toward the rear; rearward: to lag behind.
9. in a place, state, or stage already passed.
10. in arrears; behindhand: to be behind in one's rent.
11. slow, as a watch or clock: more than 20 minutes behind.
12. as a cause or often latent feature of: Behind their harassment lay the traditional fear of foreigners.
13. in a situation that exists afterward: The victim left behind a large family.
14. Archaic. in reserve; to come: Greater support is yet behind.
–adjective
15. following: the man behind.
–noun
16. Informal. the buttocks.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME behinde(n), OE behindan; for adv. suffix -an cf. before. See be-, hind 1

Synonyms:
1, 2. Behind, after both refer to a position following something else. Behind applies primarily to position in space, and suggests that one person or thing is at the back of another; it may also refer to (a fixed) time: He stood behind the chair. You are behind the appointed time. After applies primarily to time; when it denotes position in space, it is not used with precision, and refers usually to bodies in motion: Rest after a hard day's work. They entered the room, one after another.

Usage note:
See back 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Behind
be·hind   (bĭ-hīnd')   
adv.  
  1. In, to, or toward the rear: We walked behind.
  2. In a place or condition that has been passed or left: I left my gloves behind.
  3. In arrears; late: I fell behind in my payments.
  4. Below the standard level; in or into an inferior position: Don't fall behind in class.
  5. Slow: My watch is running behind.
  6. Archaic Yet to come.
prep.  
  1. At the back of or in the rear of: He sat behind her.
  2. On the farther side or other side of; beyond: The broom is behind the door.
  3. In a place or time that has been passed or left by: Their worries are behind them.
    1. Later than: The plane was behind schedule.
    2. Used to indicate deficiency in performance: behind us in technological development.
    3. Hidden or concealed by: hatred hidden behind a bland smile.
    4. In the background of; underlying: Behind your every action is self-interest.
    1. Hidden or concealed by: hatred hidden behind a bland smile.
    2. In the background of; underlying: Behind your every action is self-interest.
  6. In a position or attitude of support: The leaders have the army behind them.
  7. In pursuit of: The police were hard behind the escapees.
n.  Informal The buttocks.

[Middle English bihinde, from Old English behindan; see ko- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Behind

Be*hind"\, prep. [AS. behindan; pref. be- + hindan. See Hind, a.]

1. On the side opposite the front or nearest part; on the back side of; at the back of; on the other side of; as, behind a door; behind a hill.

A tall Brabanter, behind whom I stood. --Bp. Hall.

2. Left after the departure of, whether this be by removing to a distance or by death.

A small part of what he left behind him. --Pope.

3. Left a distance by, in progress of improvement Hence: Inferior to in dignity, rank, knowledge, or excellence, or in any achievement.

I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. --2 Cor. xi. 5.

Behind

Be*hind"\, adv. 1. At the back part; in the rear. "I shall not lag behind." --Milton.

2. Toward the back part or rear; backward; as, to look behind.

3. Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.

We can not be sure that there is no evidence behind. --Locke.

4. Backward in time or order of succession; past.

Forgetting those things which are behind. --Phil. ii. 13.

5. After the departure of another; as, to stay behind.

Leave not a rack behind. --Shak.

Behind

Be*hind"\, n. The backside; the rump. [Low]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Behind
Spanish: detrás de,
German: hinter,
Japanese: ～のうしろに
More Translations »

behind 
O.E. behindan, from bi "by" + hindan "from behind" (see hind). Euphemistic meaning "backside of a person" is from 1786. Phrase behind the times is from 1905.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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behind

In addition to the idioms beginning with behind, also see come from behind; drop behind; fall behind; get behind; power behind the throne; put behind one; wet behind the ears; with one arm tied behind one's back.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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