lagging

¹ American  

[lag-ing] / ˈlæg ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of falling or staying behind.

---

adjective

1. lingering; loitering; slow and dragging.

   lagging steps.

lagging ² American  

[lag-ing] / ˈlæg ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of covering a boiler, oil tank, etc., with heat-insulating material.

2. the covering formed.

3. the material used.

4. a number of boards or the like joined together side by side to line an excavation.

5. Masonry. a number of lags, taken as a whole.

---

lagging British  

/ ˈlæɡɪŋ /

noun

1. insulating material wrapped around pipes, boilers, etc, or laid in a roof loft, to prevent loss of heat

2. the act or process of applying lagging

3. a wooden frame used to support an arch during construction

---

Other Word Forms

• laggingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of lagging¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; lag ¹ + -ing ¹, -ing ² ( def. )

Origin of lagging²

First recorded in 1850–55; lag ³ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

While a financial win for SpaceX, the Anthropic deal was also viewed as a sign that the Grok model was lagging.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

A series of missteps, including a foray into renewable energy that failed to deliver promised returns, had left BP’s shares lagging behind peers and investor confidence waning.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Around 80% of hotels surveyed by the American Hotel and Lodging Assn. reported that room bookings are lagging behind expectations for the 2026 World Cup.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

The EU is Mexico's third-largest trading partner, lagging far behind the United States and China.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

We walk in silence, lagging behind, until finally she judges she can say, “Of course you can’t. But find out and tell us.”

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• underdeveloped