Looking for synonyms for fall behind? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say fall behind.
- Lag
- Trail
- Lose ground
- Get behind
- Be delayed
- Slip back
- Drop back
- Fall off the pace
- Linger
- Straggle
- Dally
- Drift
- Lag behind
- Dawdle
- Hang back
- Stagger
- Fall off
- Recoil
- Retreat
- Regress
Want to learn how to say fall behind professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Lag
Appropriate Use: Suitable for situations where someone or something is moving or developing more slowly than others.
Example: “Several team members started to lag in their project contributions due to heavy workloads.”
2. Trail
Appropriate Use: Best used when someone is behind others in a sequence or progression.
Example: “In the sales ranking for this quarter, John is trailing behind his colleagues.”
3. Lose ground
Appropriate Use: Ideal for situations where someone is losing an advantage or falling behind in competition.
Example: “After the market shift, our company started to lose ground to competitors.”
4. Get behind
Appropriate Use: Suitable for instances where delays cause someone to fall behind schedule or expectations.
Example: “She got behind on her report submissions after taking on additional responsibilities.”
5. Be delayed
Appropriate Use: Used when something is postponed or slowed down, causing a lag.
Example: “The project was delayed due to unforeseen technical issues.”
6. Slip back
Appropriate Use: Best for describing a situation where there is a regression or a return to a previous, worse state.
Example: “After a strong start, the new division began to slip back in its performance targets.”
7. Drop back
Appropriate Use: Ideal for contexts where someone falls to a lower position or status.
Example: “During the marathon, several runners began to drop back after the halfway point.”
8. Fall off the pace
Appropriate Use: Suitable for situations where someone is unable to keep up with the expected or set pace.
Example: “As the project deadline approached, some team members started to fall off the pace.”
9. Linger
Appropriate Use: Best used when someone remains in a place or condition longer than necessary.
Example: “He tended to linger on the preliminary stages of the design process, causing delays.”
10. Straggle
Appropriate Use: Ideal for situations where individuals are spread out and some are lagging behind.
Example: “In the company run, a few participants straggled behind the main group.”
11. Dally
Appropriate Use: Suitable for scenarios involving unnecessary delays due to slow or leisurely actions.
Example: “The team cannot afford to dally on making the crucial decision.”
12. Drift
Appropriate Use: Used when someone gradually falls behind or loses focus or direction.
Example: “She began to drift from the project’s main objectives, causing concern among her teammates.”
13. Lag behind
Appropriate Use: Best for cases where there is a significant and noticeable delay or slowdown.
Example: “Despite their efforts, the department continues to lag behind in adopting the new system.”
14. Dawdle
Appropriate Use: Ideal for situations where someone is wasting time or being slow, causing delays.
Example: “There’s no time to dawdle on the details; we need to meet our deadline.”
15. Hang back
Appropriate Use: Suitable for instances where someone is hesitant or reluctant to move forward or keep up.
Example: “In group discussions, he tends to hang back rather than contribute his ideas.”
16. Stagger
Appropriate Use: Best used to describe a situation where progress is unsteady or inconsistent.
Example: “The project’s progress staggered due to fluctuating team availability.”
17. Fall off
Appropriate Use: Ideal for contexts where there is a decline in quality, quantity, or intensity.
Example: “After a strong start, the team’s enthusiasm began to fall off.”
18. Recoil
Appropriate Use: Suitable for scenarios where someone or something is forced back or retreats.
Example: “The division recoiled after the unexpected market downturn.”
19. Retreat
Appropriate Use: Used when there is a withdrawal or a step back, often from a previously advanced position.
Example: “Faced with overwhelming competition, the company had to retreat from its aggressive expansion strategy.”
20. Regress
Appropriate Use: Best for situations involving a return to a less developed state or condition.
Example: “Due to lack of practice, her programming skills began to regress.”
