fall behind

VERB

trail

Synonyms

STRONGEST

chase falter lag pull

STRONG

dally dangle dawdle delay dog drag draggle draw droop extend flag halt hang haul hunt linger loiter plod poke procrastinate pursue shadow shag spook spoor stalk straggle stream tail tarry tow trace track traipse trudge

WEAK

bedog bring up the rear drop back fall back follow a scent hang back hang down nose out poke along string along tag along take out after

Antonyms

STRONG

advance carry on complete finish forward go hasten hurry ignore leave leave alone let go push rise run away rush shorten speed stop tiptoe

WEAK

lead

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For instance, a clock traveling at 10 m/s for 57 million years would fall behind a stationary clock by about one second.

From Science Daily • May 18, 2026

It also has the power to recover arrears if parents fall behind with payments.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Interest rates, economic growth expectations, inflation trends, and credit conditions often determine which parts of the market lead and which fall behind.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

That began around the 1990s, economists say, as widening inequality and a shift toward a knowledge-based economy made parents fear their children would fall behind without a competitive edge.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

"I fall behind in school," my mom explains, continuing the story.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

fall behind

Example Sentences

Related Words