I. bə̇ˈhīnd, bē- adverb (or adjective)
Etymology: Middle English behinde, behinden, from Old English behindan, from be- + hindan from behind, behind — more at hind
1. : in the place or situation left (as by someone or some thing gone or departed)
leaving much unfinished work behind
only a small group stayed behind
little residue remained behind after evaporation
2. archaic : to come : unrealized
his heritage that is yet behind
3.
a. : in arrears
behind with the rent
behind in his dues
b. : in a secondary or inferior position
lag behind in competition
: remiss
behind in his work
— often used with a negative
the oppostition was not behind in the use of bitter words
c. : slow
the clock was behind
the train was an hour behind
4.
a. : in back
the car behind
: to the rear
the men in poor condition fell behind early in the march
b. : toward the back : backward
to look behind
5. : in the past : gone by
the drab days in a furnished room in Rome seem well behind — Time
6. : beyond : on the other or far side of
the stream, slowing through broad meadows, has the Green mountains behind — H.E.McDaniel
II. preposition
Etymology: Middle English behinde, behinden, from behinde, behinden, adverb
1.
a. of something having a front and back : at the back of
a garden behind a house
taking cover behind barricades
— sometimes used with a reflexive object
he looked behind him
b. — used as a function word to indicate anything that lies or intervenes between or as if between one thing (as an observer) and another
hills hidden behind clouds
behind his friendly manners was maliciousness
drop behind the horizon
2.
a. — used as a function word to indicate someone who has departed or is at a distance
the staff remained behind the troops
— often used with a reflexive object
they left wives and children behind them
left behind him a great reputation
b. : as past experience for
believe that … we have behind us, at least in most parts of the country, the crudest of the pioneering period — M.Eucharista
with several generations of devoted service to the church behind him — M.H.Thomas
c. : not in prospect for : gone by for
his best jobs are all behind him
3.
a.
(1) : following
there was rain behind the wind — H.D.Skidmore
behind the band marched the infantry
(2) : in pursuit of
a fox with a pack of hounds behind him
b.
(1) : below
way behind his last year's average
: inferior to
sales were only a few percentage points behind those for the previous year
: retarded in relation to
behind the times
with theory running behind practice, we will not be surprised to meet some inconsistencies — Hunter Mead
(2) : not up to but competing with
the firm was close behind the leader in the field
(3) of a pitcher in baseball : in the situation of having thrown more balls than strikes to
the pitcher was behind the batter
(4) of a batter in baseball : in the situation of having a count of more strikes than balls
4.
a. : later than understood or stipulated
a train behind schedule
behind time in his appointments
b. — used as a function word to indicate anything that belongs in a period later than or subsequent to another
looking back behind the vast technological superstructure of western civilization to a quieter day — H.J.J.Winter
5.
a. : in the background of : as an ever-present quality or feature of
behind United States-Mexican relations lies the constant question of unsettled damage claims — H.E.Davis
b. : out of the mind or consideration of
he put unpleasant memories behind him
c. : beyond
an analysis of the story behind the news
: past
whenever possible he has gone behind the printed book to the manucript — Times Literary Supplement
6.
a. : on the side of : supporting
in a crisis Latin America would probably be behind the U.S.
b. : serving as a foundation for or basis of : upholding, backing
behind his arguments are years of experience
a good picture … must have intelligent thinking behind it — F.L.Mott
7.
a. : serving as motivation for : prompting, provoking
economic pressure was behind the thievery
the real reasons behind his actions
b. : in control of : guiding , regulating
the person behind the wheel of a car
behind the throttle of a locomotive
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: behind (I)
1. : the back side (as of a garment)
2. : buttocks — sometimes considered vulgar