Synonyms of falling behind

falling behind

phrase

present participle of fall behind

as in delaying

to move or act slowly

He lost his footing and fell behind in the relay.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delaying
• lingering
• dragging
• crawling
• poking
• dropping behind
• hanging fire
• marking time
• strolling
• playing
• creeping
• dragging one's feet
• taking one's time
• loitering
• lagging
• fiddling (around)
• shuffling
• puttering (around)
• fooling around
• hanging (around or out)
• dawdling
• moping
• stalling
• dillydallying
• pottering (around)
• diddling
• lollygagging
• messing around
• monkeying (around)
• tarrying
• lounging
• staggering
• slowing (down or up)
• dallying
• idling
• trifling
• shilly-shallying
• loafing
• sauntering
• ambling
• decelerating
• inching
• lolling
• easing
• temporizing
• procrastinating
• lumbering
• plodding
• filibustering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flying
• rushing
• racing
• running
• tearing
• speeding
• ripping
• hurrying
• whirling
• hastening
• scurrying
• dashing
• whizzing
• bolting
• scudding
• whisking
• coursing
• scrambling
• barreling
• scooting
• zipping
• rocketing
• darting
• bowling
• hurtling
• hotfooting (it)
• careering
• running
• hustling
• speeding (up)
• humping
• stampeding
• jogging
• galloping
• trotting
• accelerating
• breezing
• catching up
• sprinting
• quickening
• overtaking
• outpacing
• outstripping
• outrunning
• fast-forwarding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of falling behind

Being in debt is bad enough, but falling behind on credit cards or other debts can create a new set of financial worries, particularly if the balance ends up in collections. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Finance leaders are under pressure to move fast, demonstrate business value and avoid falling behind competitors already putting AI to work. — Hugo Sarrazin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The super app project is being headed by Jacob Andreou, the 33-year-old executive who has had a fast rise at Microsoft and whom Nadella is trusting to save its AI strategy after falling behind competitors, Fortune reported in June. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

Fewer people are falling behind on payments early in their credit card cycle compared to a year ago. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

Stocks sank on that surge in yields, as investors questioned whether the central bank was falling behind in its inflation fight. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026

Philadelphia scored three unanswered goals after falling behind 2-0 despite playing with a man advantage for more than an hour. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026

But it’s been accused of falling behind in AI, and its core business might have fewer growth opportunities than a rapidly advancing new technology. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 July 2026

The Red Sox falling behind early was one of several recurring themes of the series. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 July 2026