Akademik

fall behind

verb

1. retreat (Freq. 2)

• Ant: ↑gain (for: ↑fall back)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑recession (for: ↑recede), ↑receding (for: ↑recede)

• Hypernyms: ↑regress, ↑retrograde, ↑retrogress

• Verb Frames:

- Somebody ——s

2. hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.

• Syn: ↑lag, ↑dawdle, ↑fall back

• Derivationally related forms: ↑dawdler (for: ↑dawdle), ↑lag (for: ↑lag), ↑lagger (for: ↑lag), ↑laggard (for: ↑lag)

• Hypernyms: ↑follow

• Verb Frames:

- Something ——s

- Somebody ——s

* * *

fail to keep up with one's competitors

■ fail to meet a commitment to make a regular payment

borrowers falling behind with their mortgage payments

* * *

fall behind [phrasal verb]

1 : to fail to move or go forward as quickly as others

We had to stop several times so that the slower hikers wouldn't fall (too far) behind.

2 : to fail to do something as quickly as planned or required

— often + with

We've been falling further behind with our work.

— often + on

I am falling behind on my homework.

We fell behind on our car payments.

• • •

Main Entry: ↑fall

Useful english dictionary. 2012.