Behindat the back; also used for being late, in debt, or losing is a common English word with several different meanings. It can describe something that is later than expectedanticipated or predicted to happen at a certain time, owing money or paymentsamounts of money given regularly to pay what is owed, lower in a contest, or the part of the body you sit on. The exact meaning depends on the sentence.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /bɪˈhaɪnd/

Easy pronunciation: bih-HIND (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress the second syllable.

Adverb meaning late or behind schedule, as with a watch or clock.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Behind Meaning

late or slower than it should be

Part of speech: adverb

Definition: not as advanced, on time, or up to date as expected

Example: My watch is running behind.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• slow — Works for a clock or watch that is not keeping the correct time.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Behind

Meaning 2

owing money or not paid on time

Part of speech: adverb

Definition: in debt or late with payments

Example: He fell behind with his mortgage payments.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• behindhand — Means late with payments or obligations.
• in arrears — Used for money owed or payments that are overdue.

Meaning 3

your buttocks or bottom

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on

Example: She landed on her behind.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• arse — Informal and often rude.
• ass — Very informal and often rude in American English.
• backside — Common informal word.
• bottom — Neutral and widely used.
• bum — Informal, especially in British English.
• buns — Informal and playful.
• butt — Common informal word.
• buttocks — More formal or medical.
• derriere — Polite or humorous, often a euphemism.
• fanny — Meaning varies by region; not suitable in all varieties of English.
• fundament — Formal, old-fashioned, or humorous.
• hindquarters — Often used for animals, but can refer to people in a humorous way.
• keister — Informal.
• posterior — Polite or formal.
• prat — Mainly British informal; can also mean a foolish person.
• rear — Polite and general.
• rear end — Informal and common.
• rump — Can be used humorously or for animals.
• seat — Euphemistic and less direct.
• tail — Informal or humorous in this sense.
• tail end — Usually refers to the back part of something; less direct for the body.
• tooshie — Childish or playful.
• tush — Informal and playful.

Meaning 4

trailing or losing

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: having a lower score or being in a lower position in a contest

Example: They were behind by two points.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Behind Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• slow

in debt or late with payments

• behindhand
• in arrears

the buttocks; the part of the body you sit on

• bottom
• backside
• butt
• rear
• posterior

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• Do not confuse behind meaning 'late' with behind as a body part.
• Do not use front as a synonym for the payment or debt sense.
• In the contest sense, behind usually means trailing, not physically located at the back.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main meaning of behind?

The most common everyday meaning is something that is late, slower than expected, or not keeping pace with what should happen.

What are the synonyms of behind?

That depends on the sense. For time, slow can work. For money or payments, behindhand and in arrears fit. For the body part, common synonyms include bottom, backside, butt, and rear.

Is behind a noun, adverb, or adjective?

Behind can be all three. It is often an adverb, but it can also be a noun for the buttocks and an adjective meaning trailing in a contest.

Can behind mean owing money?

Yes. In that sense, it means late with payments or in debt.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.