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.
Yet since many insurance companies were behind in updating their policies to reflect the approval, prior authorizations continued to deny the drug automatically, she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
While the price that will be borne by these people and their families may be unimaginable, the communities they leave behind in the U.S. are affected as well.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026
The final time was 2:02.28, with Original Sin 6¼ lengths behind in second and Full Serrano third.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Milan Van Ewijk: Lost the ball for the Arsenal opener and his team were up against it after going behind in the 15th minute.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
She kisses me on the cheek and runs away before I can say a word, leaving me behind in a chorus of ooooooooooooohs from everyone watching.
From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender
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.
