lag behind
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To fail to keep pace; to fail to keep up with one's peers; to achieve or impress less than one's peers; to move more slowly than one's peers.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Liam was lagging behind in the race.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “lag behind” mean?
To fail to keep pace; to fail to keep up with one's peers; to achieve or impress less than one's peers; to move more slowly than one's peers.
Is “lag behind” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.