lag behind

English

Verb

lag behind (third-person singular simple present lags behind, present participle lagging behind, simple past and past participle lagged behind)

1. (transitive or intransitive) To fail to keep pace; to fail to keep up with one's peers; to achieve or impress less than one's peers; to move more slowly than one's peers.

   Liam was lagging behind in the race.

   • 1962 December, “Beyond the Channel: U.S.S.R.: Train speeds still rising”, in Modern Railways, page 418:

     Until now these for the most part have lagged far behind those of Western Europe in speed; over the longer distances average speeds well below 40 m.p.h. have been the rule.

   • 2022 March 9, Stefanie Foster, “RAIL Supplement”, in RAIL, number 952, page 3:

     As the country continues to wrestle with one of the greatest upheavals to everyday life in recent memory, passenger numbers have had a turbulent 'snakes and ladders' journey - and continue to lag behind pre-pandemic levels.