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behind

Pronunciation: /bɪˈhaɪnd/

The English word “behind” has 20 meanings listed here.

preposition

  1. At or to the back or far side of.
  2. Concealed by (something serving as a facade or disguise).
  3. In the past, from the viewpoint of.
  4. After in physical progress or distance.
  5. After in developmental progress, score, grade, etc.; inferior to.
  6. After in time.
  7. Responsible for, being the creator or controller of.
  8. Underlying, being the reason for or explanation of.
  9. In support of.
  10. Following, subsequent to; as a result or consequence of; because of.

adverb

  1. At or in the rear or back part of something.
  2. In a rearward direction.
  3. So as to come after someone or something in position, distance, advancement, ranking, time, etc.
  4. So as to be still in place after someone or something has departed or ceased to exist.
  5. Backward in time or order of succession; past.
  6. Behind the scenes in a theatre; backstage.
  7. Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.

adjective

  1. Not advanced to the required or expected degree; overdue or in arrears.
  2. Slow.

noun

  1. The rear, back-end.

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”).

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