staying behind
Lingering after others
Staying behind means remaining in a place after others have left or moved on.
A student might stay behind after class to ask questions; a soldier stays behind to cover a retreat.
The phrase often implies a deliberate choice not to follow: Everyone else went to the party, but I stayed behind to finish my work.
- lagPeriod of falling behind
- slowLacking in speed
- remainingStill present after removal
- tarryingRemaining beyond expected time
- loseFail to keep
bringing up the rear · drop · last one standing · lingering · hanging around · sticking around · stragglers · dwelling · comfort zone · abandonment · rear guard · waiting · attachment · after school · reluctance · residing · hesitation · halting
staying behindleaving
Act of going away
departing · going · moving on · setting off · heading out
staying behindcoming along
Making steady progress
following · accompanying · going with · tagging along · keeping up
staying behindmoving ahead
Proceeding toward a goal
advancing · forging ahead · getting ahead · pressing on · pushing forward
stay, staying, stayed, stays, stayer, behind, hind, hinder, hindmost