behind
1 of 3adverb or adjective
be·hind
bi-ˈhīnd 
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
3
archaic
: still to come
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
: buttocks
—often used as a euphemism for ass in idiomatic expressions
get your behind over here
Synonyms
Adverb or adjective
Preposition
Noun
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
Lars Brandle, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
But after four years of creative pivots to withstand unexpected hurdles that included financial stress, severe drought, and a global pandemic, Chang-Fleeman made a choice that many young farmers are considering: to leave farming behind.
—Eliza Milio, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Luggage gets lost, passports get misplaced and phones may not work at international destinations when they aren't connected to Wi-Fi.
To avoid the headaches and prepare for whatever may come your way (or what accidentally gets left behind), follow these simple tips.
—USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
The risk of being left behind is too unpalatable for business leaders, and one mantra was clear as founders and tech executives discussed the topic onstage in London: Companies have to pick the right ways to use AI.
—Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
Archaeologists were able to date the shelter by analyzing the wood left behind, officials said, suggesting it was likely built at the beginning of the 20th century, after 1902.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
Certain areas, including those that could prove crucial in November’s elections, are far behind.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
The company’s design shop is in the Bay Area, in a cul-de-sac behind Pivotal.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick are surging behind.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024
Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Images show her with a bloodied face with her hands handcuffed behind her back.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
The circumstances behind the shooting and how detectives zeroed in on Vasquez and Diaz remained unclear Thursday.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Some warn that reliably detecting deepfakes will probably become impossible, as the tech behind AI image generators changes and improves.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Go at peak traffic time and step back behind their landscape plants.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
International arrivals in both countries lagged significantly behind pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Chelsea meanwhile moves to 10th in the table, just five points behind United.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
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
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
Adverb or adjective
Close behind at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is ex-Dire Straits frontman and guitarist Mark Knopfler’s One Deep River (EMI), currently fewer than 3,000 chart units behind James’ Yummy.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
But after four years of creative pivots to withstand unexpected hurdles that included financial stress, severe drought, and a global pandemic, Chang-Fleeman made a choice that many young farmers are considering: to leave farming behind.
—Eliza Milio, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Luggage gets lost, passports get misplaced and phones may not work at international destinations when they aren't connected to Wi-Fi.
To avoid the headaches and prepare for whatever may come your way (or what accidentally gets left behind), follow these simple tips.
—USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
The risk of being left behind is too unpalatable for business leaders, and one mantra was clear as founders and tech executives discussed the topic onstage in London: Companies have to pick the right ways to use AI.
—Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
Archaeologists were able to date the shelter by analyzing the wood left behind, officials said, suggesting it was likely built at the beginning of the 20th century, after 1902.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
Certain areas, including those that could prove crucial in November’s elections, are far behind.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
The company’s design shop is in the Bay Area, in a cul-de-sac behind Pivotal.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick are surging behind.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024
Preposition
What if the dataset behind the chat interface was physical reality itself, captured in real time by interpreting the input of billions of sensors sprinkled around the globe?
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Images show her with a bloodied face with her hands handcuffed behind her back.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
The circumstances behind the shooting and how detectives zeroed in on Vasquez and Diaz remained unclear Thursday.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Some warn that reliably detecting deepfakes will probably become impossible, as the tech behind AI image generators changes and improves.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Go at peak traffic time and step back behind their landscape plants.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
International arrivals in both countries lagged significantly behind pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Chelsea meanwhile moves to 10th in the table, just five points behind United.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
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
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
behind
1 of 2 adverb or adjective
be·hind
bi-ˈhīnd
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 preposition1
: 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
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