stayed behind
Lingered after others
To stay behind is to remain in a place after others have left.
Students stay behind after class for extra help; soldiers stay behind to cover a retreat.
The phrase implies deliberate choice or necessity rather than mere presence: Everyone went to the party, but I stayed behind to finish the report.
- lingeredRemained beyond expected
- stuck aroundStayed in place
- stationedAssigned to a location
- kept watchObserved protectively over time
- remainedStayed in place
dwelled · delayed · hung back · tarried · waiting · waited up · resided · loitered · wistful · excluded · halted · abandoned · paused · nostalgic · reluctant · held back · isolated · lagged
stayed behindwent along
Proceeded with others
came along · accompanied · joined · tagged along · followed
stayed behindwent ahead
Continued as planned
moved ahead · forged ahead · pushed forward · took the lead · advanced
stayed, behind, stay, stays, staying, stayer, stayers, overstay, overstayed