stays behind
Lingers after others
Stays behind means to remain in a place while others leave.
A student might stay behind after class to ask a question, or one parent stays behind with a sick child while the family goes on vacation.
The phrase suggests a deliberate choice or necessity to not accompany others: You go ahead—I'll stay behind and clean up.
- remainStay in place
- stick aroundRemain in place temporarily
- lingerStay beyond necessity
- endureSuffer through without yielding
- hold backPrevent forward movement
wait · wait up · delay · persist · reside · last · anchor · continue · permanence · straggler · bring up the rear · monitor · persevere · sustain · safeguard · halt · maintain · pause
movement/accompaniment
stays behindcomes along
Appears after waiting
goes along · departs · leaves · accompanies · follows
position in a group/progression
stays behindgoes ahead
Proceeds with a plan
leads · forges ahead · gets ahead · outpaces · advances