lie behind

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lie, behind.

“What truly lies behind her sudden change of heart?”

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Meanings

verblie behind (third-person singular simple present lies behind, present participle lying behind, simple past lay behind, past participle lain behind)

present singular third person lies behind · participle present lying behind · past lay behind · participle past lain behind

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lie, behind.
  2. To be the ultimate cause of.

    What truly lies behind her sudden change of heart?

Cite this entry
APA

lie behind. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lie%20behind

MLA

“lie behind.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lie%20behind. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lie behind,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lie%20behind.

Source: lie behind on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.