Synonyms of fell behind

fell behind

phrase

past tense of fall behind

as in delayed

to move or act slowly

He lost his footing and fell behind in the relay.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delayed
• lingered
• dragged
• crawled
• poked
• dropped behind
• strolled
• marked time
• played
• hung fire
• crept
• lagged
• loitered
• dillydallied
• stalled
• dawdled
• shuffled
• moped
• diddled
• dragged one's feet
• took one's time
• lollygagged
• fiddled (around)
• puttered (around)
• tarried
• shilly-shallied
• staggered
• dallied
• pottered (around)
• lounged
• fooled around
• idled
• hung (around or out)
• trifled
• messed around
• monkeyed (around)
• slowed (down or up)
• sauntered
• loafed
• ambled
• decelerated
• inched
• eased
• lolled
• temporized
• procrastinated
• plodded
• lumbered
• filibustered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flew
• rushed
• raced
• ripped
• bolted
• hurried
• sped
• ran
• hastened
• dashed
• tore
• scurried
• whisked
• whizzed
• scooted
• whirled
• coursed
• zipped
• scrambled
• barreled
• rocketed
• scudded
• hustled
• darted
• hurtled
• humped
• trotted
• ran
• sped (up)
• bowled
• hotfooted (it)
• stampeded
• accelerated
• breezed
• caught up
• jogged
• sprinted
• galloped
• careered
• quickened
• outpaced
• overtook
• outstripped
• outran
• fast-forwarded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fell behind

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

The Sabres fell behind 2-0 on two ghastly defensive-zone plays. — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 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

Pakistan fell behind in the powerplay against Jasprit Bumrah’s yorkers. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

The Tigers started drives by trying to get QB Austin Simmons going, but often fell behind the sticks with minimal gains or no gains on first and second down. — Pj Green september 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026

On Sunday, the Rangers fell behind 3-1 in the third inning, and Minnesota extended that to 5-1 in the fifth inning. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2026

The Celtics fell behind 17-0, briefly recovering with an onside kick before two late turnovers sealed the loss. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026