behind
UK /bɪˈhaɪnd/ · US /ˈbiˌhaɪnd/ preposition, adverb, adjective, noun
Forms behinder behindest behinds ahind behine
- preposition At or to the back or far side of. “The children were hiding behind the wall.”
- preposition (figuratively) Concealed by (something serving as a facade or disguise). “Behind the smile was a cruel intention.”
- preposition (figuratively) In the past, from the viewpoint of. “All my problems are behind me.”
- preposition After in physical progress or distance.
- preposition After in developmental progress, score, grade, etc.; inferior to. “I'm ranked sixth in the French class, behind five other pupils.”
- preposition After in time.
- preposition Responsible for, being the creator or controller of. “Who is behind these terrorist attacks?”
- preposition Underlying, being the reason for or explanation of. “What is behind this unexpected decision?”
- adverb At or in the rear or back part of something. “The water flows out through the pipe, and the sediment collects behind.”
- adverb In a rearward direction. “We ran and ran, without once looking behind.”
- adverb So as to come after someone or something in position, distance, advancement, ranking, time, etc. “The slower runners were left a long way behind.”
- adverb 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.”
- adverb Backward in time or order of succession; past.
- adverb Behind the scenes in a theatre; backstage.
- adverb (archaic) Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.
- adjective Not advanced to the required or expected degree; overdue or in arrears. “I'm very behind in my schedule.”
- adjective (of a watch or clock) Slow. “My watch is behind by four minutes.”
- noun The rear, back-end. “This part fits under the behind of the vehicle.”
- noun (informal) The buttocks, bottom, butt. “I was stung on the behind by a wasp.”
- noun (euphemistic) Synonym of ass (“synecdochic: a person or their body”). “Get your lazy behind out of bed!”
Synonyms
in back of to the rear of a-back ass buttocks nates arse butt backside bum buns can fundament hindquarters hind end keister posterior prat rear rear end rump stern seat tail tail end tooshie tush bottom derriere fanny
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English behinde, behinden, from Old English behindan (“on the back side of, behind”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihindan, *bihindini (“on the back side of, in the rear of, behind”), from Proto-West Germanic *bi- + *hindō (“the hind side, back part”), equivalent to be- + hind. Compare Old Saxon bihindan (“behind”, adverb), Middle High German behinter (“behind; back”).
Webster’s 1913
- preposition 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.
- preposition Left after the departure of, whether this be by removing to a distance or by death.
- adverb At the back part; in the rear. "I shall not lag behind." Milton.
- adverb Toward the back part or rear; backward; as, to look behind.
Etymology [AS. behindan; pref. be- + hindan. See Hind, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “behind”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details