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
  • That costly tendency contributed to the Commanders falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter against the Eagles.
    — Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Irish scored 28 unanswered points after falling behind 13-7 with 1 minute, 52 seconds left in the first half.
    — Kyle Hightower, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of falling behind
Phrase
  • All the same, Adelaide believed in the importance of marking time.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
  • 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 Nov. 2026.

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