behind

1 /bI'haInd/ preposition

1 at or towards the back of something: The cat ran out from behind a tree. | I got stuck behind a truck all the way to the airport. | Jane shut the door behind her.

-see front 1

2 not as successful or advanced as someone or something else: We're three points behind the other team. | Mark's always behind the rest of his class in mathematics. | behind schedule (=not arriving or not ready at the right time): The new building is already three months behind schedule.

3 what's behind sth being the secret or hidden reason for something: I wonder what's behind this sudden change of plan.

4 supporting a person, idea etc: The workers are very much behind these proposals. | behind sb/sth all the way (=supporting someone or something totally): We're behind you all the way on this one.

5 responsible for a plan, idea etc or for organizing something: The police say that organized groups of children are behind the recent spate of thefts. | The Rotary Club is behind the fund-raising for the new hospital.

6 if 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.

7 if you have experience behind you, you have learnt valuable skills or got important qualities that can be used: Marjorie's got ten years of experience as a social worker behind her.

8 if a quality or attitude is behind an appearance you think that it exists in spite of being hidden: She suspected that a certain cynicism lay behind his cheerful exterior.

-see also: behind sb's back back 1 (11), behind bars bar 2 (14) 2 adverb

1 at or towards the back or something: an enormous desk with an old man sitting behind | The house has a huge garden behind. | close behind/not far behind: The motorcyclists came first, with the President's car following close behind.

2 be/get behind to be late or slow in doing something: This work should have been finished yesterday; I'm getting terribly behind. | behind with: We're already three months behind with the rent.

3 stay/remain behind to stay in a place when other people have left it or gone somewhere else: I decided to stay behind and look after the baby.

4 leave sth behind to leave something in a place where you were before

5 fall behind to be less successful than other people

3 noun (C) informal a word meaning bottom 1 (7), sometimes used when you want to avoid saying this directly