fall behind

phrase

1

: to lag behind

The slower hikers fell behind the group.

2

: to be in arrears

He fell behind in his car payments.

Examples of fall behind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With two turnovers just minutes apart in the second quarter, the Saints went from being in position to take the lead to needing a big defensive stop to avoid falling behind. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

Miami fell behind early and nearly clawed its way back, but after a controversial call on a potential touchdown, UM ended up the losers against rival Notre Dame. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Despite falling behind by two scores in a monsoon Friday night, Ethan O’Connell and his teammates never relented. — Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2026

Prompted by the combat emergence of maneuvering threats like Russia’s Kinzhal and Zircon missiles, European military planners realized traditional air defenses were falling behind. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fall behind

• countersigned
• disinclined
• humankind
• interlined
• intertwined
• mastermind
• misaligned
• nonaligned
• predefined
• realigned
• reassigned
• recombined