behind Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
    bum; seat; stern; keister; tail end; prat; bottom; rear end; buns; tail; tush; rump; fanny; ass; tooshie; hind end; posterior; hindquarters; butt; nates; rear; arse; buttocks; backside; derriere; can; fundament.
    • he deserves a good kick in the butt
    • are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?
  2. adjective satellite having the lower score or lagging position in a contest
    • behind by two points
    • the 8th inning found the home team trailing
  3. adverb in or to or toward the rear
    • he followed behind
    • seen from behind, the house is more imposing than it is from the front
    • the final runners were far behind
  4. adverb remaining in a place or condition that has been left or departed from
    • when he died he left much unfinished work behind
    • left a large family behind
    • the children left their books behind
    • he took off with a squeal of tires and left the other cars far behind
  5. adverb of timepieces
    slow.
    • the clock is almost an hour slow
    • my watch is running behind
  6. adverb in or into an inferior position
    • fell behind in his studies
    • their business was lagging behind in the competition for customers
  7. adverb in debt
    in arrears; behindhand.
    • he fell behind with his mortgage payments
    • a month behind in the rent
    • a company that has been run behindhand for years
    • in arrears with their utility bills

WordNet

Be*hind" preposition
Etymology
AS. behindan; pref. be- + hindan. See Hind, a.
Definitions
  1. On the side opposite the front or nearest part; on the back side of; at the back of; on the other side of; as, behind a door; behind a hill.
    A tall Brabanter, behind whom I stood. Bp. Hall.
  2. Left after the departure of, whether this be by removing to a distance or by death.
    A small part of what he left behind him. Pope.
  3. Left a distance by, in progress of improvement Hence: Inferior to in dignity, rank, knowledge, or excellence, or in any achievement.
    I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 2 Cor. xi. 5.
Be*hind" adverb
Definitions
  1. At the back part; in the rear. "I shall not lag behind." Milton.
  2. Toward the back part or rear; backward; as, to look behind.
  3. Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.
    We can not be sure that there is no evidence behind. Locke.
  4. Backward in time or order of succession; past.
    Forgetting those things which are behind. Phil. ii. 13.
  5. After the departure of another; as, to stay behind.
    Leave not a rack behind. Shak.
Be*hind" noun
Definitions
  1. The backside; the rump. Low

Webster 1913