lagging

¹ American  

[lag-ing] / ˈlæg ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of falling or staying behind.

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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.

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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

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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

Small caps have finally started to break out, after years of lagging behind megacap stocks.

From MarketWatch • May 16, 2026

Oklo’s shares are up 2.6% in 2026, lagging the S&P 500’s 8.1% gain, despite partnerships and regulatory progress.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

To counter Diageo’s lagging spirits portfolio in the U.S., newly-installed CEO Lewis has hinted at potential options, such as tapping the growing popularity of ready-to-drink canned cocktails.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

The Lakers slugged their way through a defensive battle against the Houston Rockets in the first round, but their offense started lagging midway through the series.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

As they trudged on, he noticed that Renn was lagging behind.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• underdeveloped