Phrasal verbs with behind often share the idea of being late, delayed, or kept in a place or situation. The meaning of behind in phrasal verbs usually points to staying back, being slower than expected, or hidden. To learn English phrasal verbs with behind, it helps to connect them with time, responsibility, or position.
For example:
- run behind – to be delayed or late
- keep behind – to not allow someone to leave
- hold behind – to restrain or keep something from moving forward
An easy way to remember is to think of behind as something not in front: either in space (staying back), in time (being late), or in control (holding back).
Full list of phrasal verbs with behind
bring behind
to move or carry something to a position at the back (non-standard use)
fall behind
to move slower than others or fail to keep up
get behind
fail to do something on time
hold behind
to keep someone back from moving forward
keep behind
to make someone stay after others have left
lag behind
to move or develop more slowly than others
leave behind
to forget or not take something or someone with you
put behind
to stop thinking about something unpleasant and move forward
run behind
to be late or delayed
stay behind
to remain in a place when others leave