drop behind

move slower and end up behind others

B2

What does "drop behind" mean?

To drop behind means to gradually fall into a position further back than the people or things you were keeping up with. It suggests that someone or something was once level with others but has since failed to maintain that pace — whether in a race, a competitive market, academic progress, or financial obligations. The sense is often of a slow, progressive process rather than a sudden collapse. You can use it in physical situations, like a runner dropping behind the leading group, or in more abstract ones, like a company dropping behind its rivals in innovation. It is more common in British English than American English, where 'fall behind' tends to be preferred.

Examples

How to use it

subject + drop behind + group noun

This is the most common structure, where the subject falls back from a group or group of competitors — the prepositional phrase specifies who is now ahead.

He dropped behind the lead group on the final hill and couldn't recover.

subject + drop behind + with + obligation noun

Use 'with' to indicate a task, payment, or responsibility that is no longer being kept up with.

They dropped behind with their mortgage payments after one of them lost their job.

subject + drop behind + on + obligation noun

Use 'on' as an alternative to 'with' when referring to a specific duty or measurable target that has been missed.

The project team dropped behind on deliverables halfway through the quarter.

subject + drop behind + in + area noun

Use 'in' when referring to a broader field or domain where the subject has lost ground compared to others.

The country has dropped behind in renewable energy investment compared to its neighbours.

subject + drop behind + (no complement)

The verb can also be used without any complement when the context already makes clear who or what the subject has fallen behind.

She was leading at the halfway point, but then dropped behind and finished fifth.

Common Collocations

drop behind the leadersdrop behind scheduledrop behind rivalsdrop behind with workdrop behind the groupdrop behind in the race

Common Mistakes

Trying to separate the verb

'Drop behind' is intransitive, so there is no object to place — and nothing can ever go between 'drop' and 'behind'. Learners familiar with separable phrasal verbs sometimes attempt to insert a word in the middle, which is never possible here.

✗ She dropped her competitors behind in the final lap.
✓ She dropped behind her competitors in the final lap.
Confusing 'drop behind' with 'drop back'

'Drop back' often implies a deliberate or tactical move to a rearward position, whereas 'drop behind' means being unable to keep pace with others — it implies involuntary loss of position.

✗ The midfielder dropped behind to defend, which was a smart move.
✓ The midfielder dropped back to defend, which was a smart move.
Forcing the future continuous

The future continuous ('will be dropping behind') sounds unnatural with this verb in most contexts. Use the simple future or present continuous instead if you need to refer to the future.

✗ At this rate, we will be dropping behind the other teams all season.
✓ At this rate, we will drop behind the other teams all season.

Usage

'Drop behind' is more common in British English; American speakers more often say 'fall behind'. It works naturally in both physical contexts (races, walks, cycling) and abstract ones (work, studies, payments).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'drop behind' more British or American English?

'Drop behind' is more commonly used in British English. American speakers tend to prefer 'fall behind' in most of the same situations. Both are understood internationally, but if you're writing for an American audience, 'fall behind' may sound more natural.

Can 'drop behind' describe a gradual process, or is it a sudden event?

'Drop behind' usually implies a gradual process — someone slowly loses pace rather than suddenly stopping. This is part of what makes it feel slightly different from a phrase like 'fall back', which can sound more abrupt. You'll often see it used with the past continuous to emphasise the ongoing nature of the slipping: 'She was dropping behind as the race went on.'

Does 'drop behind' always involve a competition or race?

No — it's very common in non-competitive contexts too. You can drop behind with rent, on a work schedule, or in a field like technology or education. The key idea is simply that something or someone has failed to keep up with an expected pace or standard, whether that's set by rivals or by your own obligations.

What's the difference between 'drop behind' and 'lag behind'?

'Lag behind' often describes a persistent or structural gap — for example, a sector that has been underfunded for years. 'Drop behind' tends to suggest that the subject was previously keeping up but has since lost ground, making it feel more event-based. In practice, they overlap quite a bit, but 'drop behind' carries a stronger sense of change from a previous position.

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