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

The quality and value of its previous generation of Sticks fell behind consumer expectations. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026

The Broncos, meanwhile, overcame a Week 1 loss to remain competitive, but have fallen behind the Chiefs and Raiders in the AFC West. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026

On the day after former coach Tony Reno died at the age of 52, the Yale football team fell behind early but then took control late and rallied for a 41-24 win over Merrimack in a nonconference game on an emotional Saturday at Yale Bowl in New Haven. — Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026

Skubal fell behind with his first pitch of the game, a fastball below the zone. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 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