From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbehindbe‧hind1 /bɪˈhaɪnd/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition, adverb 1 BEHINDat or towards the back of a thing or person I turned to speak to the person standing behind me. Someone could easily creep up behind us. The car behind was hooting impatiently. Jane shut the door behind her. The manager was sitting behind a large desk.close behind/not far behind He set off down the road with the rest of us following close behind. ► Don’t say ‘behind of’: He hid behind a chair (NOT behind of a chair).2 LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WARnot as successful or not having made as much progress as someone or something else Mark’s always behind the rest of his class in mathematics. This victory lifts Ferguson’s team into fifth place, nine points behind leaders Norwich. Europe was falling behind in the important field of computer technology.3 used to say that someone is late in doing what they have to do This work should have been finished yesterday. I’m getting terribly behind. Victor had fallen behind with his mortgage payments after losing his job. an important research project that is already two years behind schedule (=not ready at the time planned)4 REASONused for talking about the hidden reason for something I wonder what’s behind this change of plan. Perhaps a bitter experience lay behind her anger.5 SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLANsupporting a person, idea etc The workers are very much behind these proposals. I suppose I’m lucky because my parents were behind me all the way. 6 RESPONSIBLEresponsible for a plan, idea etc or for organizing something It was alleged that foreign agents were behind the recent violence. The Rotary Club is behind the fund-raising for the new hospital.7 FORGETif an unpleasant experience or situation is behind you, it no longer upsets you or affects your life Now you can put all these worries behind you. a chance to start a new life and leave all your troubles behind8 LEARNif you have experience behind you, you have gained valuable skills or important qualities that can be used Marjorie is one of the top designers in the business, with years of experience behind her.9 HIDE/NOT SHOWused when the real facts about a situation or someone’s character are hidden by the way things seem or by the way a person behaves We were determined to find the truth behind this mystery. You could see the burning hatred behind Graham’s calm manner.10 if a student stays behind after school or after a lesson, they stay after it has finished → behind somebody’s back at back2(9), → behind bars at bar1(7), → behind the times at time1(38)THESAURUSbehind at or towards the back of something, and often hidden by itThe sun went behind a cloud.I got stuck behind a truck on the way to the airport.at the back British English, in (the) back American English behind something, especially a buildingThere’s a small garden at the back of the cottage.Their house has a pool in the back.at/to the rear written behind something, especially a building. At/to the rear sounds rather formal and is used especially in written descriptionsThey parked in a small car park at the rear of the hotel.There is a small seating area to the rear.in the background if someone or something is in the background, it is behind the place where the main activity is happeningIf you look carefully at the painting, you will see several men sitting at a table in the background.
Examples from the Corpus
behind• I was driving behind a truck on the freeway.• What's behind Cooper's opposition to the changes?• Ronstadt's days as a rock star are behind her, for now.• Gutierrez entered the race with six weeks of solid training behind her.• Behind his gruff exterior, she finds a sweet soul.• He sat behind me.• It's interesting to learn the history behind the buildings.• the mountains behind the city• Is that your shoe behind the couch?• The Rams were 21 points behind the Falcons with only 10 minutes left to play.• The police believe a local gang is behind the killings.• Surprisingly, Congress appears to be firmly behind the President on this issue.• The Chamber of Commerce is behind this year's annual fund-raising dinner.behind schedule• Interstate 880 opened Tuesday, only three months behind schedule.• First flight was scheduled for December 1963 but due to fuel tank leakage the programme fell well behind schedule.• Home project had fallen behind schedule.• That dredging is now behind schedule.• The Community is therefore currently behind schedule.• Today thousands of commuters were delayed for up to 35 minutes as trains ran behind schedule.• Unfortunately, the difficulty of mustering the parade had been badly miscalculated and it was behind schedule.• Countless advanced communications projects have fallen behind schedule after being heavily promoted.behindbehind2 noun [countable] informalHBH the part of your body that you sit on SYN bottomExamples from the Corpus
behind• Craig: Cheryl's not so much always behind as all behind.• But Sixo had already melted into the woods before the lash could unfurl itself on his indigo behind.• I denied homosexual inclinations but he still made me bend down so that he could inspect my behind with a wooden spatula.From Longman Business Dictionarybehindbe‧hind1 /bɪˈhaɪnd/ adverb be/get/fall behind (with something) to be late making a regular payment or doing workOver 4% of British borrowers are likely to be a month or more behind with their repayments.You may be putting your tenancy at risk if you fall behind with the rent.I can’t sleep at night because I’m worried about getting behind with my work.behindbehind2 preposition1be behind somebody/something to support a person, an idea, or the work they are doingCabinet Ministers rallied behind the Prime Minister yesterday.2not as advanced or successful as someone or something elseTheir social and economic development is so far behind the rest of the world that they can never compete on equal terms.3behind schedule not arriving or happening at the right timeCommuters were delayed for up to 35 minutes as trains ran behind schedule.Contractors who fall behind schedule will incur financial penalties.Origin behind1 Old English behindan, from hindan “from behind” 