lie behind
phrasal verb
lay behind; lain behind; lying behind; lies behind
: to be the cause of (something)
Greed lies behind the higher prices.
Examples of lie behind in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Prosecutors say Johnson was found lying behind a car in the back of the home, also not fully dressed, with an apparent gunshot wound to his lower leg.
—
Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Rain and wintry precipitation are expected to develop along the front, but the bigger concern lies behind it.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026
The driver, who had a leg injury, was lying behind the vehicle.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
The petite sirloin is a section of beef cut from the sirloin area (which lies behind the short loin and ahead of the round).
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie behind
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Rain and wintry precipitation are expected to develop along the front, but the bigger concern lies behind it.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026
The driver, who had a leg injury, was lying behind the vehicle.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
The petite sirloin is a section of beef cut from the sirloin area (which lies behind the short loin and ahead of the round).
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lie behind
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lie behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20behind. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
