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Synonyms

in arrears

Idioms  

  1. Late or behind, especially in payment of money. For example, He's been in arrears on his rent so often that he may be evicted. [First half of 1600s]

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.

They highlighted how few of their loans were in arrears.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Rick Burgess from the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People said research suggested thousands of people were in arrears to their councils.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Inflation also undermines the value of Social Security payments, because the annual cost-of-living adjustments come a year in arrears.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

The Bureau of Economic Analysis is also deeply in arrears in terms of data release, having last published its PCE inflation report for the month of August on Sept. 26.

From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025

The pews were decrepit, the bills were once so in arrears the electricity was nearly turned off, and the padre hadn’t installed air-conditioning, despite summer temperatures that reach 120 degrees.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

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.