behind

1 of 3

adverb or adjective

be·​hind bi-ˈhīnd How to pronounce behind (audio)
bē-
1
a
: in the place or situation that is being or has been departed from
stay behind
b
: in, to, or toward the back
look behind
came from behind
c
: later in time
can spring be far behind
2
a
: in a secondary or inferior position
b
: in arrears
behind in the rent
c
: slow
3
archaic : still to come

behind

2 of 3

preposition

1
a
: in or to a place or situation in back of or to the rear of
look behind you
put behind bars
b
used as a function word to indicate something that screens an observer
the sun went behind a cloud
c
: following in order
marched behind the band
2
used as a function word to indicate backwardness, delay, or deficiency
behind the times
behind schedule
lagged behind last year's sales
3
a
: in the background of
the conditions behind the strike
b
: out of the mind or consideration of
put our troubles behind us
c
: beyond in depth or time
the story behind the story
go back behind St. Augustine
4
a
: in support of : on the side of
solidly behind the candidate
b
: with the support of
won 1–0 behind brilliant pitching

behind

3 of 3

noun

be·​hind ˈbē-ˌhīnd How to pronounce behind (audio)
bi-ˈhīnd,
bē-
: buttocks
often used as a euphemism for ass in idiomatic expressions
get your behind over here

Examples of behind in a Sentence

Preposition The older students entered the room first with the younger students following behind them. The cat hid behind the couch. The sun went behind a cloud. They were ahead of us by 5 points earlier in the game, but now they're behind us by 7. The polls show that he is behind the other candidates. The company is now behind the competition. He was behind the other students in his studies. Noun kicked him in the behind
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb or adjective
But farmers who could not afford the prescribed fertilizer and pesticides were left behind. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024 When the billions of bugs start to die and leave their carcasses behind, the accumulations can rot and stink in the rising spring temperatures, but even then, the cicadas are doing good. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 An article on Saturday about the co-founder of a group that works to deactivate unexploded bombs left behind by the Vietnam War referred imprecisely to an arm injury Ho Van Lai sustained in a cluster bomb explosion. New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 More than one in five children in China – nearly 67 million under age 17 – are left behind by their parents, according to the country’s latest population census in 2020. Nectar Gan, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 Keep in Mind Traces of soil were left behind after vacuuming. Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024 In this beautiful, reflective essay on mourning and loss, Lygia Navarro describes life with long COVID, becoming disabled, and being left behind. Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 19 Mar. 2024 On the most recent episode of VPR, viewers watch as Jax Taylor makes his grand return to the series that birthed his reality TV career after leaving it all behind in 2020. Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024 Alexander Baxter Guests cast papers into the bonfire of woes to be left behind in winter, and wishes to be invited in with spring. Sarah Wood, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024
Preposition
But prior to Friday’s 4-of-6 three-point shooting performance with the Heat, Swider had shot just 5 of 19 (26.3 percent) from behind the arc in his limited NBA playing time this season. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2024 The chef caught my happy dance from behind the bar. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024 The rollout will be gradual — lasting more than a decade — but property owners that fall too far behind risk being saddled with assets that can no longer be sold or rented. Frances Schwartzkopff, Fortune Europe, 24 Mar. 2024 The guests on a political talk show on Russia’s flagship Channel One rushed to find ways to blame Ukraine on Saturday evening, suggesting without evidence that Kyiv had to be behind the attack, despite Islamic State’s claims of responsibility. Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024 Rachel Hong, head of PB Development, the organization behind the pickleball proposal, declined a phone interview and did not respond to an email seeking comment. Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024 During his administration, the former president sought relentlessly to repeal it but congressional Republicans failed to unite behind the effort. Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 Major companies with a presence in the U.K., including Bud Light maker AB InBev and the bottling company behind Coca-Cola are taking well over 100 days to pay back their suppliers, according to the latest report on invoice payments by Good Business Pays. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 Both Mister Dips and the Brakeman are located in Parker's Alley, a walkway behind the Shinola Hotel that stretches from Grand River to John R streets. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024
Noun
You’re dragged by the collective ears to the door before finding a boot in your behind. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024 The very first winner was hip-hop artist T-Pain, who left his trademark Auto-Tune behind to show off his pipes au naturel. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 9 Nov. 2023 In the snap, Jagger blows a kiss at the camera and places a hand on her hip while her little brother sticks out his behind. Staff Author, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2023 Many Weibo users noted the animal’s upright posture, as well as folds of loose fur on its behind – making the bear look somewhat odd and fueling speculation that a human imposter might be masquerading in its place. Heather Chen, CNN, 1 Aug. 2023 When Kimmel inquired whether Momoa was wearing the malo under his clothes during their interview, the actor simply rose from his seat and began removing his apparel until he was clad only in the traditional thong-like clothing, baring his behind for the talk show host and his audience. Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 13 July 2023 García has 54 RBIs, one behind of MLB-leader Yordan Alvarez. Mark Didtler, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2023 Keep them raised and drag your heels slowly toward your behind, then push them back to the starting position and repeat without lowering your hips. Alisha McDarris, Popular Science, 29 June 2023 Pushing too hard could wind up biting you in the behind at any moment. Chicago Tribune, 30 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'behind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

Middle English behinde, from Old English behindan, from be- + hindan from behind; akin to Old English hinder behind — more at hind

Preposition

Middle English behinde, behinden, from behinde, behinden, behind entry 1

Noun

noun derivative of behind entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of behind was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near behind

Cite this Entry

“Behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

behind

1 of 2 adverb or adjective
be·​hind bi-ˈhīnd How to pronounce behind (audio)
1
a
: in a place or time that is being or has been departed from
stay behind
left years of poverty behind
b
: at, to, or toward the back
look behind
fall behind
2
a
: not up to the general level
behind in school
b
: not keeping up to a schedule
behind in the car payments

behind

2 of 2 preposition
1
: at, to, or toward the back of
look behind you
a garden behind the house
2
: not up to the level of
sales are behind those of last year
behind the rest of the class
3
a
: in the background of
the reasons behind our success
b
: in support of
we're behind you all the way

More from Merriam-Webster on behind

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