dropping behind

phrase

present participle of drop behind
as in delaying
to move or act slowly He dropped behind in the second half of the race.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dropping behind
  1. falling behind
  2. marking time
Phrase
  • The Broncos’ defense forced the Ducks to turn over the ball on downs twice, and the offense answered nearly every time Oregon could have pulled away — tying the score at 24-24 and 27-27 after falling behind in the second half.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2026
  • After falling behind 14-13 with 37 seconds left, Georgia Tech drove to the Colorado 27-yard line.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of falling behind
Phrase
  • The moon represents creation and destruction, rebirth, eternity, the feminine, time, marking time, mystery, the night, and secrets.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of marking time
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

dropping back
dropping behind
dropping by
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dropping behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dropping%20behind. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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