behind

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.

preposition

1. in or to a position further back than; at the rear of; at the back of
2. in the past in relation toI’ve got the exams behind me now
3. late according to; not keeping up withrunning behind schedule
4. concerning the circumstances surroundingthe reasons behind his departure
5. backing or supportingI’m right behind you in your application

adverb

6. in or to a position further back; following
7. remaining after someone’s departurehe left it behind
8. in debt; in arrearsto fall behind with payments

adjective

9. (postpositive) in a position further back; retardedthe man behind prodded me

noun

10. informal the buttocks
11. 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)

adv.

Old English behindan “behind, after,” from bi “by” + hindan “from behind” (see hind (adj.)). The prepositional sense emerged in Old English. Euphemistic noun meaning “backside of a person” is from 1786. Phrase behind the times is from 1905. Behind the scenes (1711) is from the theater; figurative sense attested by 1779.

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