be behind

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   To have made less progress than expected or than other people.

   Grammar: Followed by with + the task or subject: be behind with the rent.

   Patterns

   • be behind with something
   • be behind on something

   I'm behind with my essay and the deadline is Friday.

   The builders are two weeks behind on the schedule.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   To be late in paying money that is owed.

   Grammar: Often followed by with or on: be behind with the rent.

   Patterns

   • be behind with something
   • be behind on payments

   They fell behind with the mortgage after he lost his job.

   If you are behind with your bills, call the company early.

3. 3phrasefixed phrase

   To be the person or thing that caused or secretly supports something.

   Grammar: Followed by a noun: be behind the plan, be behind the attacks.

   Patterns

   • be behind something

   The police believe a local gang is behind the robberies.

   She was behind the whole idea of the community garden.

4. 4phrasefixed phrase

   To be less successful or further back than others in a race or competition.

   Grammar: Often used with by + an amount: be behind by two goals.

   Patterns

   • be behind by something
   • be behind someone

   At halftime we were behind by ten points.

   Our team is behind, but there is still time to score.

5. 5phrasefixed phrase

   To be located at the back of something, or to be standing at someone's back.

   Grammar: Used literally for position; the object follows: be behind the house.

   Patterns

   • be behind something
   • be behind someone

   The car is parked behind the hotel.

   She stood behind me so she could see the screen.

Word forms

Common combinations

be behind schedule

The train is behind schedule because of the snow.

be behind with the rent

They were behind with the rent for two months.

be behind the times

His teaching methods are a bit behind the times.

be behind someone in a race

She was behind the leader for most of the race.

be way behind

We are way behind, so we need to work this weekend.

Synonyms and how they differ

lag behind

Emphasizes falling gradually behind others while they move forward; be behind simply states the position.

be late

Used mainly about time, not about progress or being the cause of something.

trail

More common in sports and news writing for being behind in a competition.

Opposites

Word family

behind preposition

At the back of or later than something.

behindhand adjective

Old-fashioned word for being late or behind with work or payments.

Commonly confused: be behind or behind?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “be behind”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words