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Fall behind meaning

Fall behind means to move or progress more slowly than others. It can also mean to not do work or pay money by the time you should.

Check yourself: 3 questionsAll 6 phrasal verbs with fall

fall behind

fall behind · fell · fallen · falling

B2No object+1 more meaning

I was sick for a month and fell behind in maths.

Fall behind meanings and examples

2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.

  1. 1move or progress more slowly than others
  2. 2not do work or pay money by the time you should
  1. 1

    Move or progress more slowly than others

    fall behind

    B2No object

    • I was sick for a month and fell behind in maths.
    • Walk faster! You’re falling behind.
    • Our town has fallen behind other cities in recycling.
  2. 2

    Not do work or pay money by the time you should

    fall behind

    B2No object

    • They fell behind with the rent and had to move.
    • The builders have fallen behind schedule again.
    • Don’t fall behind on your loan payments.
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Is fall behind separable?

Fall behind has no object of its own. You can name the person you are behind: fall behind the others. For work and money, use with or on: fall behind with the rent.

UK English usually says fall behind with payments; US English usually says fall behind on payments. Behind schedule is a common fixed phrase.

Verb tenses for fall behind

PresentI fall behind · she falls behind
Pastfell behind
Present perfecthave fallen behind
-ing formfalling behind

Common mistakes with fall behind

What learners often say, and what to say instead.

  • Wrong: I fell behind of my classmates.

    Right: I fell behind my classmates.

    No of after fall behind.

  • Wrong: We’ve fallen behind from the rent.

    Right: We’ve fallen behind with the rent.

    Use with (UK) or on (US) for payments.

  • Wrong: The project is falling back schedule.

    Right: The project is falling behind schedule.

    The phrase is fall behind schedule.

Synonyms and opposites of fall behind

Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.

Similar

  • lag behindbe slower than others, often for a long time
  • get behindinformal, the same as fall behind with work
  • be in arrearsformal, late with payments

Opposite

Fall behind quiz

Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.

  1. 1If you miss too many classes, you’ll ___.

  2. 2Choose the right sentence.

  3. 3“We’ve fallen behind on our bills.” What is the problem?

More phrasal verbs with fall

All phrasal verbs with fall, by level, with an exercise

6 phrasal verbs start with fall. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.

Test yourself on fallTake the full test

Fall behind FAQ

Questions people ask about fall behind.

Fall behind with or fall behind on?

Both are correct for work and payments. With is more common in UK English, on in US English.

What is the difference between fall behind and catch up?

They are opposites. You fall behind when you get slower than others. You catch up when you reach them again.

What does fall behind schedule mean?

It means a project is later than planned: The new station has fallen behind schedule.

Use fall behind in real conversations

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