lag behind

present singular third person lags behind · participle present lagging behind · participle past lagged behind · past lagged behind

1. intransitivetransitiveTo fail to keep pace; to fail to keep up with one's peers; to achieve or impress less than one's peers; to move more slowly than one's peers.

   Liam was lagging behind in the race.

   2 more examples

   Until now these for the most part have lagged far behind those of Western Europe in speed; over the longer distances average speeds well below 40 m.p.h. have been the rule.

   1962 December, “Beyond the Channel: U.S.S.R.: Train speeds still rising”, in Modern Railways, page 418

   As the country continues to wrestle with one of the greatest upheavals to everyday life in recent memory, passenger numbers have had a turbulent 'snakes and ladders' journey - and continue to lag behind pre-pandemic levels.

   2022 March 9, Stefanie Foster, “RAIL Supplement”, in RAIL, number 952, page 3