lagged behind
Didn't keep pace
To lag behind is to fail to keep pace with others, falling back in position or progress.
The phrase applies to physical movement—She lagged behind the group on the hike—but more often describes competitive or developmental shortfall: Sales lagged behind projections, The country lagged behind its neighbors in education reform.
- belatedlyAfter the expected time
- straggledMoved in scattered disorder
- dropped backMoved rearward in position
- tardyArriving past due
- trailedFollowed or lagged
brought up the rear · lost ground · delayed · underachieved · dawdled · failed · stagnated · slowed · procrastinated · underperformed · faltered · postponed · lingered · regressed · fell short · overdue · missed the boat · deferred
lagged behindled
Guided or commanded
pulled ahead · took the lead · forged ahead · out in front · in the lead
lagged behindexcelled
Performed exceptionally well
outperformed · surpassed · kept up · set the pace · outshone
lagged, lagging, lagger, laggers, behind, hind, hinder, hindmost