English
behind
Etymology

From Middle English behinde, behinden, from Old English behindan, from Proto-West Germanic *bihindan, *bihindini, from Proto-West Germanic *bi- + *hindō, equivalent to .

Pronunciation
    • IPA: /bɪˈhaɪnd/, /bəˈhaɪnd/
    • (America) IPA: /ˈbiːˌhaɪnd/, /bɪˈhaɪnd/
    • (British) IPA: /bɪˈhaɪnd/, /bəˈhaɪnd/
Preposition
  1. At or to the back or far side of.
    The children were hiding behind the wall.
    The sun went behind the clouds.
    Look behind you!
    • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC ↗:
      But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection.
      […] The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window […], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.
    Synonyms: in back of, to the rear of, a-back
    Antonyms: in front of
    1. (figuratively) Concealed by (something serving as a facade or disguise).
      Behind the smile was a cruel intention.
    2. (figuratively) In the past, from the viewpoint of.
      All my problems are behind me.
  2. Less forward or advanced than; after.
    Antonyms: ahead of
    1. After in physical progress or distance.
      Smith finished the race a lap behind the others.
    2. After in developmental progress, score, grade, etc.; inferior to.
      I'm ranked sixth in the French class, behind five other pupils.
      In the cricket match, England are 120 runs behind India.
      • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, 2 Corinthians 11:5 ↗:
        For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
    3. After in time.
      London is nine hours behind Tokyo.
  3. Responsible for, being the creator or controller of.
    Who is behind these terrorist attacks?
    Mr Jones was the man behind the redevelopment plan.
    • 2023, Ian Miller, OutKick‎:
      Bud Light replaces Marketing VP behind Dylan Mulvaney partnership.
  4. Underlying, being the reason for or explanation of.
    What is behind this unexpected decision?
  5. In support of.
    The republicans are fully behind their candidate.
  6. (sometimes regarded as non-standard, US, informal) Following, subsequent to; as a result or consequence of.
Translations Translations Translations Translations
  • Portuguese: por trás
Translations Adverb

behind (comparative more behind, superlative most behind)

  1. At or in the rear or back part of something.
    The water flows out through the pipe, and the sediment collects behind.
  2. In a rearward direction.
    We ran and ran, without once looking behind.
  3. So as to come after someone or something in position, distance, advancement, ranking, time, etc.
    The slower runners were left a long way behind.
    In the cricket match, England finished a long way behind.
    The worst thing about autumn is that winter follows behind.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC ↗:
      I shall not lag behind.
  4. So as to be still in place after someone or something has departed or ceased to exist.
    I couldn't be bothered to carry the ironing board, so I left it behind.
    He stayed behind after the war.
    He left behind a legacy of death and sorrow.
    The island was inundated by the sea, leaving not a trace behind.
    • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene i]:
      Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
      And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, / Leave not a rack behind.
  5. Backward in time or order of succession; past.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, Philippians 3:13 ↗:
      […] forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before
  6. Behind the scenes in a theatre; backstage.
  7. (archaic) Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.
    • 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 4, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC ↗, book I, page 16 ↗:
      We cannot be sure that there is no evidence behind.
Translations Translations Adjective

behind (comparative more behind, superlative most behind)

  1. Not advanced to the required or expected degree; overdue or in arrears.
    I'm very behind in my schedule.
    My employer is two paychecks behind on paying my salary.
  2. (of a watch or clock) Slow.
    My watch is behind by four minutes.
Noun

behind (plural behinds)

  1. The rear, back-end.
    This part fits under the behind of the vehicle.
    She sneaked up on me from behind.
  2. (informal) The buttocks, bottom, butt.
    I was stung on the behind by a wasp.
  3. (Australian rules football) A one-point score.
  4. (baseball, slang, 1800s) The catcher.
  5. In the Eton College field game, any of a group of players consisting of two "shorts" (who try to kick the ball over the bully) and a "long" (who defends the goal).
Translations Translations Related terms

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