behind
at or toward the rear of: Look behind the house.
not keeping up with, later than; after: behind schedule.
in the state of making less progress than: We can't afford to fall behind our competitors.
on the farther side of; beyond: behind the mountain.
originating, supporting, or promoting: Who's behind this program?
hidden or unrevealed by: Malice lay behind her smile.
at the controls of: behind the wheel of a car.
at or toward the rear; rearward: to lag behind.
in a place, state, or stage already passed.
in arrears; behindhand: to be behind in one's rent.
slow, as a watch or clock: more than 20 minutes behind.
as a cause or often latent feature of: Behind their harassment lay the traditional fear of foreigners.
in a situation that exists afterward: The victim left behind a large family.
Archaic. in reserve; to come: Greater support is yet behind.
following: the man behind.
Informal. the buttocks.
Origin of behind
1synonym study For behind
usage note For behind
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use behind in a sentence
Stanley Crouch on why white women are suddenly seeking big behinds.
We had a molasses candy pull last Friday evening, given by the house matron of Fergussen to the left-behinds in the other halls.
Daddy Long-Legs | Jean WebsterThe three "left-behinds" were occupying a table together in a secluded corner of the dining-room.
Just Patty | Jean WebsterHe'd better go back to the land again and wash down the cows' behinds!
Pelle the Conqueror, Complete | Martin Anderson NexoAnd listening lag-behinds shook their shock-heads and fell back on the old Welsh proverb: 'Ah, a widow's goods will soon be gone.'
The Making of William Edwards | Mrs. G. Linnaeus Banks
Give them a kick apiece on their behinds, and let them go—the rubbish.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend | Charles Reade
British Dictionary definitions for behind
/ (bɪˈhaɪnd) /
in or to a position further back than; at the rear of; at the back of
in the past in relation to: I've got the exams behind me now
late according to; not keeping up with: running behind schedule
concerning the circumstances surrounding: the reasons behind his departure
backing or supporting: I'm right behind you in your application
in or to a position further back; following
remaining after someone's departure: he left it behind
in debt; in arrears: to fall behind with payments
(postpositive) in a position further back; retarded: the man behind prodded me
informal the buttocks
Australian rules football a score of one point made by kicking the ball over the behind line between a goalpost and one of the smaller outer posts (behind posts)
Origin of behind
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with behind
In addition to the idioms beginning with behind
- behind bars
- behind closed doors
- behind in
- behind someone's back
- behind the eight ball
- behind the scenes
- behind the times
- behind time
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® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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