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behind

 - 3 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.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

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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