1
as in fades
to lose bodily strength or vigor
during the fourth quarter the whole team seemed to lag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delays
to move or act slowly
the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of lags
Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
While his run defense still lags well behind his pass-rushing talent, the difference Chaisson can make on third downs and other high-leverage situations should earn him a nice payday.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
Incarceration certainly plays a key role in depressing voter turnout, which lags, in no small part, because felony convictions have made so many people ineligible.
—Kevin B. Smith, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Especially for Deaf audiences for whom ASL is their first language, overlaid interpretation remains rare but can offer more nuance in context, emotion, and tone, address language deprivation, increase comprehension, and reduce cognitive overload and lags in information delivery.
—Abbey White, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
But 2026 so far lags early turnout in the November 2025 general election, when 65,906 voted early.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
The district lags behind statewide passing scores.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Construction lags, permitting setbacks and a number of other issues caused delays over the years, but now the spot is finally ready to welcome diners — that is, in stages.
—Helen Freund, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
Missouri, however, lags behind and is one of only three states with no laws regulating deepfakes on the books, according to Ballotpedia’s Deepfake Legislation Tracker.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
Texas also consistently lags behind in the national share of younger workers with college degrees.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
While his run defense still lags well behind his pass-rushing talent, the difference Chaisson can make on third downs and other high-leverage situations should earn him a nice payday.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
Incarceration certainly plays a key role in depressing voter turnout, which lags, in no small part, because felony convictions have made so many people ineligible.
—Kevin B. Smith, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Especially for Deaf audiences for whom ASL is their first language, overlaid interpretation remains rare but can offer more nuance in context, emotion, and tone, address language deprivation, increase comprehension, and reduce cognitive overload and lags in information delivery.
—Abbey White, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
But 2026 so far lags early turnout in the November 2025 general election, when 65,906 voted early.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
The district lags behind statewide passing scores.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Construction lags, permitting setbacks and a number of other issues caused delays over the years, but now the spot is finally ready to welcome diners — that is, in stages.
—Helen Freund, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
Missouri, however, lags behind and is one of only three states with no laws regulating deepfakes on the books, according to Ballotpedia’s Deepfake Legislation Tracker.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lags
Verb
-
As Henry’s memory fades, Caroline must navigate the unimaginable journey of losing her lifelong partner while finding strength in a new friendship.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Miami outscored Brooklyn 33-23 in the final period, the kind of quarter where the floor opens up, rotations soften and playmaking becomes easier as competitiveness fades down the stretch.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.—
Lauran Neergaard,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Travel disruptions are expected along major corridors, including Interstate 5, where slowdowns and hazards from standing water may persist into late week.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The strike comes as travelers in the United States face potential slowdowns at airport security and the continual suspension of the popular Global Entry trusted traveler program here due to an ongoing partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And if the economy deteriorates and the labor market materially weakens at the same time?—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Without this supply from the updraft, the storm weakens and dissipates.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This is where Vietnam Syndrome still lingers — not as a slogan, but as a mindset.—
Ken Toltz,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Inflation lingers as gas prices fall While some measures of inflation have cooled in recent months, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure has been stuck at about 3% for roughly a year.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their constant companion in the campaign is the Amazona 180 bag that made its debut on the Loewe runway last October, a slouchy, one-handle style that sags open when left unzipped.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Unlike your average and typical pillow that sags over time, this one has hotel-like appeal because of its precise border for a structured, refined look.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mary Lattimore’s harp spangles the background, while Camille Getz drags her violin across the track, a clever acoustic rendering of a classic shoegaze guitar squeal.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
11 Mar. 2026
-
There’s a level of helplessness that drags up, being surrounded by AI tools and AI updates and AI jobs, only to be faced with an idiot parent or friend or casual acquaintance using AI to justify their shitty actions towards you.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When investment pauses, jobs and competitiveness are put at risk all across our communities.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
American sports have long been built around pauses in play that double as inventory for advertisers.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lags. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
