Behind Meaning
Behind Definition & Usage
In or to a position at the back of something or someone.
Examples
- "The dog is behind the house."
- "She stood behind me in line."
- "He was hiding behind the curtains."
- "The car parked behind the school."
- "The manager is sitting behind his desk."
Later in time, or later than expected.
Examples
- "She is behind schedule and will arrive in 30 minutes."
- "I'm behind on my work this week."
- "The train is running behind by ten minutes."
- "We are behind on payments this month."
- "The project is behind target."
To support, endorse, or advocate for someone or something.
Examples
- "I will always be behind your decisions."
- "The community stands behind the mayor’s plan."
- "He’s behind the initiative to clean up the park."
- "The company is behind this new environmental policy."
- "She is fully behind the idea of expanding the business."
Not keeping up with the expected or usual pace.
Examples
- "He's behind in his studies and needs extra tutoring."
- "The team is behind in their training for the upcoming competition."
- "The country’s economy is behind compared to its neighbors."
- "My car broke down, so I’m behind on my way to the meeting."
- "The software development is behind schedule due to unforeseen problems."
Cultural Context
The word 'behind' has been used in the English language for many centuries. Derived from Old English 'behind', it has maintained a wide variety of uses in different contexts, ranging from literal spatial descriptions to figurative and metaphorical meanings related to time, progress, and support.
The Marathon of Progress
Story
The Marathon of Progress
On a chilly Saturday morning, the annual city marathon was about to begin. Sarah had been training for months, but despite her determination, she felt nervous. She looked around and saw runners lining up at the start line, some of them ahead of her, others beside her. 'I’ll be fine,' she whispered to herself. 'Just pace yourself, and don't fall behind.' The air was filled with excitement, but Sarah's mind was clouded with the fear of being left behind. She knew she was behind in her training, having missed a few important sessions due to work commitments. As the race started, Sarah found herself starting slower than usual, trying to keep a steady pace. Around her, runners surged ahead, leaving her behind. She began to feel the weight of her lack of preparation. 'I’m falling behind,' she thought, her legs aching as she struggled to catch up. But then, she remembered her coach’s words: 'It’s not about who’s ahead, but about finishing strong.' With that thought, she pushed through the fatigue. The course was tough, winding through the city’s historic streets. At one point, Sarah found herself behind a large group of runners. They were slowing down, and instead of feeling frustrated, Sarah decided to use this as an opportunity to catch up. 'I’m not behind yet,' she thought, 'I just need to find my rhythm.' By the final stretch, Sarah was no longer thinking about being behind. She had found her stride and was moving swiftly, determined to finish. As she crossed the finish line, out of breath but proud, she realized that being behind was never a permanent state. It was just a moment in time, a place to push from. Her story wasn’t defined by where she started, but by where she finished, and she had finished strong.
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