behind the times

phrase

: not having or showing knowledge of current ideas or styles : outdated, old-fashioned
The entire country is behind the times when it comes to protecting the environment.
Our professor is surprisingly behind the times.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Behind the times.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20times. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster