behind 1 of 4

preposition

Definition of behindnext
1
as in back of
at, to, or toward the rear of she preferred to be behind the lead hikers, who were always too much in a rush to enjoy the scenery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in after
subsequent to in time or order we arrived behind them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

behind

2 of 4

adverb

as in back

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

behind

3 of 4

adjective

bi-ˈhīnd How to pronounce behind (audio)
as in delayed
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time the required work was behind, so now we're running late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

behind

4 of 4

noun

ˈbē-ˌhīnd How to pronounce behind (audio)
as in seat
the part of the body upon which someone sits cleaned the baby's behind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of behind
Preposition
Minoan was third, 4-1/4 lengths behind the top two finishers. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 Introducing Angelenos to their river One motivating factor behind the festival, Orbison said, is a simple meet-and-greet. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Adverb
The operating system onboard is also two releases behind, the 2024-vintage Android 15. — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 9 Aug. 2026 Some parents also came with their children to collect their belongings left behind after the shooting. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The chefs are running super-behind, so service is slow. — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026 Like the scrappy bird in their nickname, the tenacious Toronto Blue Jays have clawed their way to 45 come-from-behind victories – most in the major leagues – and 87 overall, tops in the American League with under two weeks left in the 2025 campaign. — Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Green Dot has been handed a new group of far-behind students every single year. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 Following a behind-schedule and over-budget redevelopment by Transport for London, the roundabout was replaced last year with a byzantine road and cycle lane layout which, peppered with traffic lights, causes constant congestion in the area. — Ian King, CNBC, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for behind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behind
  1. back of
  2. after
  3. back
  4. delayed
  5. seat
  6. rearward
  7. late
  8. tail
Preposition
  • All that, combined with a packed list of votes including on a short-term funding bill and the narrow confirmation of Todd Blanche for Attorney General, pushed the PCSA toward the back of the Senate's agenda.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • On the way back, Johnson pulled out the gun and shot Pulling, the driver, in the back of the head, according to court documents.
    — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of back of
Preposition
  • Starter Luis Castillo allowed five runs on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk in four innings in his White Sox debut after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Scott recalled the moment Jeff Hiller emerged as the right fit for Larry, a friendly neighbor who reveals that the hivemind cannot lie, after a long search through auditions.
    — Deadline, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of after
Adverb
  • Some pulses penetrate gaps in the forest canopy and bounce off the ground, reflecting back to the sensors.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There’s certainly no route back to a more moderate form of leadership.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of back
Adjective
  • Ahead of the commissioners’ discussion and delayed vote, there was a flood of opposition from residents, politicians and voting right groups.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The filing is backed by a Phase 3 study that showed the drug resulted in significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival over standard chemotherapy, along with delayed worsening of pain and quality of life.
    — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 23 July 2026
Definition of delayed
Noun
  • After losing his seat to redistricting, Jones fell short in his bid for a third term in Congress against Republican Newt Gingrich.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For now, Paramount isn’t producing the billion-dollar box office smashes that drive millions of butts into theater seats (not to mention robust sales of novelty popcorn buckets).
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of seat
Adverb
  • The floor plan centers around a single- or dual-seat lounge that faces rearward to provide views through the open entryway.
    — C.C. Weiss May 07, New Atlas, 7 May 2026
  • Two of their toes point inward and two point rearward with sharp pointed claws.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of rearward
Adjective
  • Their bullpen, anchored by Raisel Iglesias and featuring multiple left-handers, offers crucial late-game relief.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That score held until two outs in the ninth, when Smith delivered the game-tying single that set the Giants’ latest loss in motion.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of late
Noun
  • One kitten was found dead in the roadway, while a second suffered a dislocated tail and scratches to its ears and was treated by veterinarians.
    — Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • This method would even allow attackers to decrypt any future passkeys, giving them a long tail if undetected.
    — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of tail

Phrases Containing behind

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behests
behind
behind bars
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Cite this Entry

“Behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behind. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on behind

Nglish: Translation of behind for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about behind

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