behind in
Idioms-
Also, behind on . Late with; not progressing quickly enough with. For example, The builders are behind on this project , or I can't take time out or I'll be too far behind in my work . The same idea is also expressed as behind time , where time means a schedule or appointed time, as in The bus should have been here; it's behind time . [Early 1300s] Also see fall behind .
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In arrears, owing more than one should. For example, Jane and Bob are behind in their payments, so the interest will mount up . [Late 1300s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The company said Opus 5 finds software flaws about as well as Mythos 5 but lags far behind in turning those flaws into something that could be weaponized into an attack.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Alphabet also has fallen a bit behind in the race to make the most advanced, most capable AI models.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Of course sometimes a game can bring you different situations but so far Spain have not been behind in any of our seven games at this World Cup, which is remarkable.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
France had never trailed in the tournament, but it fell behind in this one on Mikel Oyarzabal’s successful penalty shot in the 22nd minute.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
If our situation were any better, Aunt Kitty might have left me behind in Chicago.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
