Phrase guide

fall behind

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be late (for a regular event)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • You're falling behind with the rent.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To be progressively below average in performance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • You could lose your job if you keep falling behind with your work.
  • It's not like John to fall behind in maths.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

to fail to keep up (with)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

retreat

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fall back, lose, drop off, recede

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: regress, retrograde, retrogress

6

verb

Meaning 6

hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lag, dawdle, fall back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: follow

Narrower terms: drag, trail, get behind, hang back, drop behind, drop back

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: تَأَخَّرَ (taʔaḵḵara) — to be late
  • Azerbaijani: gecikmək — to be late
  • Chinese Mandarin: 遲到 /迟到 (chídào) — to be late
  • Czech: opozdit se — to be late
  • Finnish: jäädä jälkeen — to be late
  • Finnish: olla myöhässä — to be late
  • French: être en retard — to be late
  • German: sich verspäten — to be late
  • German: zu spät sein — to be late
  • Ido: tardeskar — to be late
  • Japanese: 遅れる (okureru) — to be late
  • Korean: 늦다 (neutda) — to be late
  • Northern Kurdish: dereng bûn — to be late
  • Northern Kurdish: paşve man — to be late
  • Northern Kurdish: paş ketin — to be late
  • Polish: spóźniać się — to be late
  • Portuguese: atrasar — to be late
  • Russian: опа́здывать (opázdyvatʹ) — to be late
  • Russian: опозда́ть (opozdátʹ) — to be late
  • Spanish: atrasar — to be late
  • Azerbaijani: geridə qalmaq — to be below average in performance
  • Chinese Mandarin: 落後 /落后 (luòhòu) — to be below average in performance
  • Czech: zaostávat — to be below average in performance
  • Finnish: jäädä jälkeen — to be below average in performance
  • Northern Kurdish: paşve man — to be below average in performance
  • Northern Kurdish: paş ketin — to be below average in performance
  • Russian: отстава́ть (otstavátʹ) — to be below average in performance
  • Russian: отста́ть (otstátʹ) — to be below average in performance
  • Swedish: hamna på efterkälken — to be below average in performance
  • Swedish: sacka — to be below average in performance
  • Northern Kurdish: paşve man — to fail to keep up
  • Northern Kurdish: paş ketin — to fail to keep up
  • Māori: komutu — to fail to keep up