Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
behind en · ADJ
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”).
Meanings
Not advanced to the required or expected degree; overdue or in arrears.
My employer is two paychecks behind on paying my salary.
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”).
Meanings
At or to the back or far side of.
The sun went behind the clouds.
Hidden behind thickets of acronyms and gorse bushes of detail, a new great game is under way across the globe. Some call it geoeconomics, but it's geopolitics too. The current power play consists of an extraordinary range of countries simultaneously sitting down to negotiate big free trade and investment agreements. 2013 July 19, Timothy Garton Ash, “Where Dr Pangloss meets Machiavelli”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 18:
The children were hiding behind the wall.
I hide behind you in hide and seek.
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. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
Look behind you!
Behind the garage needs clearing asap.
(figuratively) At or to the back or far side of. ▸ Concealed by (something serving as a facade or disguise).
Behind the smile was a cruel intention.
(figuratively) At or to the back or far side of. ▸ In the past, from the viewpoint of.
All my problems are behind me.
Less forward or advanced than; after. ▸ After in physical progress or distance.
Smith finished the race a lap behind the others.
About the center, and a good way behind the rest, Silver and I followed — I tethered by my rope[…]. 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:
Less forward or advanced than; after. ▸ After in developmental progress, score, grade, etc.; inferior to.
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 11:5:
I'm ranked sixth in the French class, behind five other pupils.
In the cricket match, England are 120 runs behind India.
Less forward or advanced than; after. ▸ After in time.
London is nine hours behind Tokyo.
Responsible for, being the creator or controller of.
Mr Jones was the man behind the redevelopment plan.
Who is behind these terrorist attacks?
Underlying, being the reason for or explanation of.
What is behind this unexpected decision?
In support of.
The republicans are fully behind their candidate.
(US, informal, qualifier:sometimes regarded as nonstandard) Following, subsequent to; as a result or consequence of; because of.
He was like, 'Fuck the police! Fuck you! You know who I am, you gonna quit playing with me, bitch.' I'm like let's go. 'Cause I wasn't trying to go to jail behind that shit. 2012, DeShawn Dorsey, Longsuffering Through Emotional Wounds, page 40:
ps له ... نه ورستو (at the back of) · la post (at the back of) · it dopo (after, time- or motion-wise) · fi takana (responsible for) · dsb za (at the back of) · cy tu cefn i (to the back of) · he מאחורי (at the back of) · vec drio (at the back of) · hu hátul (after, time- or motion-wise) · bg зад (at the back of) · sk za (after, time- or motion-wise) · vo po (at the back of) · dsb za (to the back of) · sl zadáj (at the back of) · zza peydı (to the back of) · ps تر شا (at the back of) · ckb پشتی (at the back of) · gd air cùlaibh (at the back of) · cy tu cefn i (at the back of) · ca darrere (in support of) · lv aiz (to the back of) · ca enrere (to the back of) · pa پِچھّے (at the back of) · lv aiz (at the back of) · es atrás (at the back of) · pt por trás (responsible for) · no bak (to the back of) · sl za (to the back of) · tl nasa likod (in support of) · ht dèyè (at the back of) · sk za (to the back of) · fi takana (in support of) · fr derrière (at the back of) · ru по́сле (after, time- or motion-wise) · eu atzean (at the back of) · li hönjer (at the back of) · bg наза́д (to the back of) · ur کے پیچھے (at the back of) · hi के पीछे (to the back of) · nl achter (at the back of) · as -ৰ পিছত (at the back of) · fr après (after, time- or motion-wise) · nv bineʼgi (at the back of) · ee megbe (in support of) · ar وَرَاء (to the back of) · ary مورا (at the back of) · pt detrás de (at the back of) · da bag ved (at the back of) · he מאחורי (after, time- or motion-wise) · sk za (in support of) · sv bakom (to the back of) · da bagefter (to the back of) · bho पीछे (at the back of) · ca endarrere (to the back of) · dlm dri (at the back of) · sh за (at the back of) · pis bihaen (at the back of) · pl (być) za (in support of) · sw nyuma (in support of) · acw ورا (to the back of) · ajp ورا (at the back of) · ka უკან (to the back of) · wa dirî (at the back of) · es detrás de (at the back of) · ru за (to the back of) · yi הינטער (at the back of) · la pōne (at the back of) · cs za (at the back of) · nl achter (in support of) · tl sa likod (at the back of) · ht dèyè (to the back of) · ckb پاش (to the back of) · de hinter (to the back of) · rup dupã (at the back of) · da bagefter (after, time- or motion-wise) · ca a favor de (in support of) · ar وَرَاءَ (after, time- or motion-wise) · gl detrás de (at the back of) · cy tu cefn (to the back of) · zu ngasemuva (to the back of) · yi הינטער (to the back of) · fa پشت (at the back of) · sv bakom (in support of) · da bag ved (to the back of) · hy ետեւ (at the back of) · nl na (after, time- or motion-wise) · la post (after, time- or motion-wise) · unm wtenk (at the back of) · sq prapa (at the back of) · hu után (at the back of) · sl nazáj (to the back of) · bg зад (after, time- or motion-wise) · rup dipu (at the back of) · et taga (at the back of) · pl za (at the back of) · mt wara (at the back of) · ang æfter (after, time- or motion-wise) · hi के पीछे (at the back of) · af agter (at the back of) · zu emuva (after, time- or motion-wise) · de hinter (at the back of) · es después (after, time- or motion-wise) · fr derrière (in support of) · ps د ... د ورستو (at the back of) · he מאחורי (to the back of) · pap patras (at the back of) · ko 뒤에 (at the back of) · eo malantaŭ (at the back of) · ro după (at the back of) · sv efter (after, time- or motion-wise) · ja ...の後ろに (at the back of) · ang æfter (at the back of) · pl z tyłu (to the back of) · ee megbe (after, time- or motion-wise) · ms di belakang (at the back of) · pt apoiando (in support of) · ru за спино́й (in support of) · pt atrás (to the back of) · li achter (at the back of) · sl za (after, time- or motion-wise) · pt atrás (at the back of) · ru за (at the back of) · he מֵאָחוֹר (to the back of) · sk za (at the back of) · cs za (to the back of) · et taga (after, time- or motion-wise) · sv bakom (at the back of) · fy efter (to the back of) · vls bachtn (at the back of) · ist dreîo (at the back of) · rm davos (at the back of) · ga taobh thiar de (at the back of) · be за (to the back of) · sw nyuma (at the back of) · tr arkasında (at the back of) · et taga (in support of) · az geri (to the back of) · hu mögött (at the back of) · ru позади́ (at the back of) · ms ke belakang (to the back of) · pt depois (after, time- or motion-wise) · ga ar chúl (at the back of) · no bak (at the back of) · az arxasında (at the back of) · ms sesudah (after, time- or motion-wise) · de hinter (after, time- or motion-wise) · nv bineʼdi (at the back of) · cmn ...後邊 /...后边 (at the back of) · io dop (at the back of) · te వెనక్కి (to the back of) · lad detrás de (at the back of) · no stå bak (responsible for) · gl tras (at the back of) · kmr li pey (at the back of) · gd air cùl (at the back of) · lt už (at the back of) · fi takana (at the back of) · th ข้างหลัง (at the back of) · sh za (at the back of) · hu mögé (to the back of) · ar وَرَاءَ (at the back of) · sk za (responsible for) · zu emuva (at the back of) · vi sau (at the back of) · be за (at the back of) · ka უკან (at the back of) · he מֵאָחוֹר (at the back of) · sq pas (after, time- or motion-wise) · acw ورا (at the back of) · toi kusule (at the back of) · te వెనక (at the back of) · sw nyuma (after, time- or motion-wise) · cmn ...後面 /...后面 (at the back of) · tl sa likod (to the back of) · lv pirms (after, time- or motion-wise) · ary ورا (at the back of) · sl za (in support of) · pl po (after, time- or motion-wise) · sq prapa (to the back of) · grc ὄπισθεν (at the back of) · unm wtenk (to the back of) · it dietro (to the back of) · ia detra (at the back of) · hy հետեւ (at the back of) · ary مور (at the back of) · arz ورا (at the back of) · fi taakse (to the back of) · ca darrere (at the back of) · hu után (after, time- or motion-wise) · it dietro (at the back of) · ar خَلْفَ (at the back of) · uk за (at the back of) · stq bääte (at the back of) · fy efter (at the back of) · et taha (to the back of) · rup dipã (at the back of) · my နောက် (at the back of) · no bak (in support of) · es detrás (to the back of) · mk зад (at the back of) · he מאחורי (in support of) · sl za (at the back of) · uk поза (at the back of) · sl po (after, time- or motion-wise) · ee megbe (to the back of) · ru позади́ (after, time- or motion-wise) · cmn ...後面 /...后面 (to the back of) · wa padrî (at the back of) · sw nyuma (to the back of) · pa ਪਿੱਛੇ (at the back of) · fi jäljessä (after, time- or motion-wise) · cy tu cefn (at the back of) · rup dupu (at the back of) · ar خَلْفَ (to the back of) · da efter (after, time- or motion-wise) · hu valaminek a végén (after, time- or motion-wise) · sk po (after, time- or motion-wise) · cu за (at the back of) · la post (to the back of) · cmn ...後邊 /...后边 (to the back of) · ia detra (to the back of) · el πίσω από (at the back of) · ee megbe (at the back of) · fi takana (after, time- or motion-wise) · da bag (in support of) · sq prapa (in support of) · ca després (after, time- or motion-wise) · ru за (in support of) · ur کے پیچھے (to the back of) · sq pas (in support of) · ca rere (at the back of) · no bak (after, time- or motion-wise) · hu mögött (responsible for) · fr derrière (to the back of) · ckb پشت گرتن (in support of) · sm tua (at the back of) · ru сза́ди (at the back of) · nl achteraan (to the back of) · nl achteraan (at the back of) · pl za (responsible for) · bg зад (in support of) · ckb پشت (to the back of)
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”).
Meanings
At or in the rear or back part of something.
The water flows out through the pipe, and the sediment collects behind.
In a rearward direction.
We ran and ran, without once looking behind.
So as to come after someone or something in position, distance, advancement, ranking, time, etc.
In the cricket match, England finished a long way behind.
The worst thing about autumn is that winter follows behind.
The slower runners were left a long way behind.
I shall not lag 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:
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.
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, / Leave not a rack 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]:
He left behind a legacy of death and sorrow.
The island was inundated by the sea, leaving not a trace behind.
Backward in time or order of succession; past.
[…] forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Philippians 3:13:
Behind the scenes in a theatre; backstage.
‘After the performance was over I went behind, and spoke to her.’ 1890, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Vintage, published 2007, page 68:
(archaic) Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.
We cannot be sure that there is no evidence behind. 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:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
behinder
Degree=Cmp
nonstandard, rare
lexicographic
behine
alternative
lexicographic
most behind
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
ahind
alternative, dialectal
lexicographic
more behind
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
behindest
Degree=Sup
nonstandard, rare
lexicographic
Translations (59)
ca darrere (at the back part; in the rear) · pt para trás (toward the back part or rear; backward) · ce тӏаьхьа (at the back part; in the rear) · fi takana (backward in time or order of succession) · ca enrere (backward in time or order of succession) · fi takaosassa (at the back part; in the rear) · ru позади́ (at the back part; in the rear) · es arredro (at the back part; in the rear) · ccc yajtikini (at the back part; in the rear) · mk позади (at the back part; in the rear) · hit 𒀀𒀊𒉺 (at the back part; in the rear) · sv baktill (toward the back part or rear; backward) · fi piilossa (not yet brought forward) · it dietro (at the back part; in the rear) · sv bakom (at the back part; in the rear) · de hinten (at the back part; in the rear) · cs zpátky (toward the back part or rear; backward) · ga ar gcúl (at the back part; in the rear) · ro îndărăt (toward the back part or rear; backward) · ru вспять (toward the back part or rear; backward) · ro spre-napoi (toward the back part or rear; backward) · ca enrere (toward the back part or rear; backward) · fi jälkeen (toward the back part or rear; backward) · sk vzadu (at the back part; in the rear) · es atrás (toward the back part or rear; backward) · ca rere (at the back part; in the rear) · ca endarrere (toward the back part or rear; backward) · fi jäljessä (at the back part; in the rear) · fi jälkeensä (so as to be still in place afterwards) · sk späť (toward the back part or rear; backward) · es detrás (at the back part; in the rear) · ro spre spate (toward the back part or rear; backward) · uk поза́ду (at the back part; in the rear) · gl detrás (at the back part; in the rear) · ru сза́ди (at the back part; in the rear) · ru наза́д (toward the back part or rear; backward) · ga ar deireadh (at the back part; in the rear) · da tilbage (so as to be still in place afterwards) · pt para trás (at the back part; in the rear) · da tilbage (toward the back part or rear; backward) · da bagud (at the back part; in the rear) · ga ar gcúl (toward the back part or rear; backward) · cy tu cefn (so as to be still in place afterwards) · cy tu cefn (toward the back part or rear; backward) · fi taakse (toward the back part or rear; backward) · ro în urmă (at the back part; in the rear) · inh тӏехьа (at the back part; in the rear) · hu hátra (toward the back part or rear; backward) · sw nyuma (at the back part; in the rear) · fi jäljelle (so as to be still in place afterwards) · cs vzadu (at the back part; in the rear) · ur پیچھے (at the back part; in the rear) · bg отза́д (at the back part; in the rear) · hi पीछे (at the back part; in the rear) · fi takana (at the back part; in the rear) · dsb slězy (at the back part; in the rear) · ro în spate (at the back part; in the rear) · hu hátul (at the back part; in the rear) · fi löytymättä (not yet brought forward)
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”).
Meanings
The rear, back-end.
She sneaked up on me from behind.
This part fits under the behind of the vehicle.
(informal) The buttocks, bottom, butt.
I was stung on the behind by a wasp.
There was a girl in the mattress factory with me during the war, girl about thirty. A big one, kind of a fat face, big behind to her, big titties, kind of a girl should be human and soft with a man. 1949 May, Albert Maltz, chapter VII, in The Journey of Simon McKeever, 1st edition (Fiction), Boston: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC, page 101:
"The dog got excited, was jumping around inside the boat and then it jumped on the gun. It went off, shooting the [decoy setter] in the buttocks," Box Elder County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Kevin Potter told the Salt Lake Tribune. Twenty-seven rounds of birdshot were removed from the man's behind after the accident. 2011 December 12, Alyssa Newcomb, “Sit, Stay, Aim, Fire. Dog Shoots Another Hunter”, in ABC News, archived from the original on 25 Oct 2021:
"So the catheter didn't have anything to do with keeping him from touching himself?" I don't usually go in for euphemisms, but Fineg is a man who says "behind", as in "I have a picture where he bit me in the behind." The catheter, it turns out, was in the chimp's femoral artery (to monitor blood pressure), not his urethra. 2010, Mary Roach, “One Furry Step for Mankind: The Strange Careers of Ham and Enos”, in Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, W. W. Norton & Company, →ISBN, page 158:
(euphemistic) Synonym of ass (“synecdochic: a person or their body”).
Get your lazy behind out of bed!
(qualifier:Australian rules football) A one-point score.
A roar from ten thousand throats go up,
For we've kicked another behind. 1880, “The Opening Ball”, in G. Lehmann, editor, Comic Australian Verse, 1975, quoted in G. A. Wilkes, A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms, second edition, Sydney University Press, published 1985, →ISBN:
(slang) The catcher.
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).
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
ahind
alternative, dialectal
lexicographic
behinds
Number=Plur
lexicographic
behine
alternative
lexicographic
Deriveds
behind the wheel (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · wet behind the ears (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · come from behind (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · caught behind (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · get behind (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behindhand (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind bars (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind in the count (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind the counter (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · leave behind (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind the scenes (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind the eight-ball (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind the bit (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind somebody's back (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · get thee behind me (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · fall behind (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · stay behind (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind the arc (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · behind closed doors (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · rushed behind (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech)) · drop behind (Terms derived from behind (all parts of speech))