behind
Not caught up
Behind is used primarily to define a spatial relationship and has developed other meanings that grew out of its core idea, to the rear of.
When someone is behind in a competition or contest, they are not winning.
In relation to time, behind represents delay or slowness.
It also has important uses relating to an influential thing or party in the background: Who’s behind the recent bombings? What are the conditions behind these latest developments?
Failing to keep pace
- falling backReturning to earlier position
- slowerReduced in speed
- catching upClosing a distance
- deficitAmount still owed
losing ground · shortfall · gap · trailing · chasing · bringing up the rear · last place · stragglers
Made invisible deliberately
- secretConcealed information
- obscuredMade hard to perceive
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- coveredHaving protection atop
sheltered · shrouded · screened · unseen · out of sight · tucked away · masked · camouflaged
Aid or sponsorship
- endorsementFormal expression of support
- sponsorshipFunded endorsement arrangement
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
championing · upholding · rallying · promoting · rooting for · standing with · pro · bolstering
Record of past events
- memoriesStored past experiences
- bygoneOf earlier times
- retrospectReflection on past events
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
former times · water under the bridge · moving on · closure · forgotten · outgrown
Controlling a vehicle
- motivatingPrompting someone to act
- underlyingExisting beneath the surface
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- instigatorOne who provokes action
backside
Buttocks or rear
buttocks · bottom · tail · aft · stern · rearward · caboose · tailgate · bumper · taillight
lagging
Failing to keep pace
- falling backReturning to earlier position
- slowerReduced in speed
- catching upClosing a distance
losing ground · deficit · shortfall · gap · trailing · chasing · bringing up the rear · last place · stragglers · late
concealed
Made invisible deliberately
covered · sheltered · shrouded · screened · unseen · out of sight · tucked away · masked · camouflaged · cloaked
backing
Aid or sponsorship
- endorsementFormal expression of support
- sponsorshipFunded endorsement arrangement
- advocacyPleading for a cause
patronage · championing · upholding · rallying · promoting · rooting for · standing with · pro · bolstering
history
Record of past events
- memoriesStored past experiences
- bygoneOf earlier times
- retrospectReflection on past events
nostalgia · former times · water under the bridge · moving on · closure · forgotten · outgrown
driving
Controlling a vehicle
- motivatingPrompting someone to act
- underlyingExisting beneath the surface
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
instigator · orchestrator · architect · perpetrator · culprit
- locationhere, there, place, position, location
- directionsnorth, south, east, west, left
- Euphemismspass away, passed away, passed on, expecting, with child
- location wordshere, there, where, north, south
- prepositionsabove, about, across, after, along
- rankingsrankings, first, college rankings, second, third
behindin front of
Preceding in position
before · ahead · ahead of · front · in advance of
behindahead
In the lead
ahead of schedule · on time · advanced · on schedule · ahead of time
- behind barsIn jail
- fall behindFail to maintain pace
- behind the scenesOut of public view
- leave behindDepart without taking
- behind closed doorsIn private, unobserved
- behind the wheelOperating a vehicle