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”).
But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. […]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
2
Figuratively Concealed by (something serving as a facade or disguise).
About the center, and a good way behind the rest, Silver and I followed — I tethered by my rope[…].1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:
5
After in developmental progress, score, grade, etc.; inferior to.
I'm ranked sixth in the French class, behind five other pupils.
In the cricket match, England are 120 runs behind India.
1 more example
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 11:5:
6
After in time.
London is nine hours behind Tokyo.
7
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?
9
In support of.
The republicans are fully behind their candidate.
10
US, Informal Following, subsequent to; as a result or consequence of; because of.
Sometimes regarded as nonstandard
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.2012, DeShawn Dorsey, Longsuffering Through Emotional Wounds, page 40:
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 water flows out through the pipe, and the sediment collects behind.
2
In a rearward direction.
We ran and ran, without once looking behind.
3
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.
2 more examples
The worst thing about autumn is that winter follows behind.
I shall not lag behind.1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
4
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.
3 more examples
He left behind a legacy of death and sorrow.
The island was inundated by the sea, leaving not a trace behind.
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, / Leave not a rack behind.1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
5
Backward in time or order of succession; past.
[…] forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Philippians 3:13:
6
Behind the scenes in a theatre; backstage.
‘After the performance was over I went behind, and spoke to her.’1890, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Vintage, published 2007, page 68:
7
Archaic Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.
We cannot be sure that there is no evidence behind.1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 4, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book I, page 16:
behind
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”).
1
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.
2
Of a watch or clock Slow.
My watch is behind by four minutes.
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”).
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.1949 May, Albert Maltz, chapter VII, in The Journey of Simon McKeever, 1st edition (Fiction), Boston: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC, page 101:
2 more examples
"So the catheter didn't have anything to do with keeping him from touching himself?" I don't usually go in for euphemisms, but Fineg is a man who says "behind", as in "I have a picture where he bit me in the behind." The catheter, it turns out, was in the chimp's femoral artery (to monitor blood pressure), not his urethra.2010, Mary Roach, “One Furry Step for Mankind: The Strange Careers of Ham and Enos”, in Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, W. W. Norton & Company, →ISBN, page 158:
"The dog got excited, was jumping around inside the boat and then it jumped on the gun. It went off, shooting the [decoy setter] in the buttocks," Box Elder County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Kevin Potter told the Salt Lake Tribune. Twenty-seven rounds of birdshot were removed from the man's behind after the accident.2011 December 12, Alyssa Newcomb, “Sit, Stay, Aim, Fire. Dog Shoots Another Hunter”, in ABC News, archived from the original on 25 Oct 2021:
3
Euphemistic Synonym of ass (“synecdochic: a person or their body”).
Get your lazy behind out of bed!
4
A one-point score.
Australian rules football
A roar from ten thousand throats go up, For we've kicked another behind.1880, “The Opening Ball”, in G. Lehmann, editor, Comic Australian Verse, 1975, quoted in G. A. Wilkes, A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms, second edition, Sydney University Press, published 1985, →ISBN:
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).