behind
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L316895 on Wikidata ↗adverb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L333657 on Wikidata ↗adjective
- not keeping up with a schedule
- be spatially located past the back side of something
- be losing
preposition
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L3368 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /bɪˈhaɪnd/ / /bəˈhaɪnd/ / /beˈhəɪn/
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”).
- 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.”
- Slow.
“My watch is behind by four minutes.”
adv
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”).
- 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.
“The slower runners were left a long way behind.”
“In the cricket match, England finished a long way behind.”
- 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.”
- Backward in time or order of succession; past.
“[…] forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before”
- Behind the scenes in a theatre; backstage.
“‘After the performance was over I went behind, and spoke to her.’”
- Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.
“We cannot be sure that there is no evidence behind.”
noun
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”).
- The rear, back-end.
“This part fits under the behind of the vehicle.”
“She sneaked up on me from behind.”
- 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.”
- Synonym of ass (“synecdochic: a person or their body”).
“Get your lazy behind out of bed!”
- A one-point score.
“A roar from ten thousand throats go up, For we've kicked another behind.”
- 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).
prep
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”).
- At or to the back or far side of.
“The children were hiding behind the wall.”
“Behind the garage needs clearing asap.”
- At or to the back or far side of.
“Behind the smile was a cruel intention.”
- At or to the back or far side of.
“All my problems are behind me.”
- Less forward or advanced than; after.
“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[…].”
- Less forward or advanced than; after.
“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.
“London is nine hours behind Tokyo.”
- Responsible for, being the creator or controller of.
“Who is behind these terrorist attacks?”
“Mr Jones was the man behind the redevelopment plan.”
- Underlying, being the reason for or explanation of.
“What is behind this unexpected decision?”
- In support of.
“The republicans are fully behind their candidate.”
- 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.”