behind time

USAGE SUMMARY

"behind time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone is running late or that something is not happening at the planned or expected time. For example, "I'm sorry I'm behind time, traffic was awful this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

That is because punctuality, for commuter services, is officially defined as up to 4 minutes and 59 seconds behind time.

The Guardian

Let us hope the team behind TiME can battle on, and that we may yet sail on Titan.

The Guardian

And if he has any say about it, Condé Nast will not be No.2 behind Time Inc. forever.

The New York Times

The guiding principal behind time management is to restore a person's sense of control to her day.

The Guardian - Business

Curiously, it appears the faded jewels, so faded Meredith is said not to want them, will be left behind: Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune.

The Guardian - Opinion

On the other hand, an "early-ish" better not be more than 10 seconds, in case the host is already running behind time.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

The changes, company executives say, leave behind time-consuming formalities that separate users from what they crave: instant conversation.

The New York Times - Tech

It was as if HMV had a tiff with Universal Studios and had to send burglars around to all their customers' houses to take their Universal movies away, leaving behind time-limited Argos gift vouchers by way of compensation.

The Guardian - Tech

We were wondering whether the Democratic process was not falling behind times.

The New Yorker

"It's all about looking behind time-honored assumptions and ideas for what makes for good people and testing them instead of going on your intuition and your gut," says Thomas Davenport, coauthor of Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning (Harvard Business School Press, 2007) and professor of information technology and management at Babson College.

Forbes

The idea behind time-based deals is relatively simple, and relatively common: while no one will deny that any business is good business, what can be challenging for a retailer that serves customers is to keep the flow of service constant without labor-crushing peaks, and unprofitable troughs.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "behind time" to clearly indicate a state of being late or not adhering to a schedule. For instance, "The project is behind time, and we need to catch up."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "behind time" with similar but distinct phrases like "behind the times" /s/behind+the+times, which means outdated or not modern. The meaning differs significantly, so context is key.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "behind time" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating a state of being late or off schedule. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It modifies verbs to specify that an action or event is not occurring at the expected or planned time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "behind time" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate lateness or being off schedule. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. Although not extremely common, it appears across various contexts like news reports, scientific articles, and general discussions. Related phrases such as "behind schedule" or "running late" can be used as alternatives. Remember to distinguish it from "behind the times", which means outdated. Using "behind time" effectively communicates a delay or deviation from a planned schedule in a clear and understandable manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

behind schedule

Emphasizes the deviation from a planned timeline or sequence.

off schedule

Similar to "behind schedule", indicating a departure from the planned timeline.

running late

Focuses on the action of being late, omitting the reference to a specific schedule.

not on time

A direct way of stating that something is not happening when it should.

delayed

A general term for something that is late or postponed.

later than expected

Highlights the difference between the actual time and the anticipated time.

tardy

A more formal synonym for late, often used in official contexts.

unpunctual

A formal term for not being on time or adhering to schedules.

lagging

Suggests a slower pace or progress compared to the expected rate.

held up

Implies a delay caused by unforeseen circumstances or obstacles.

FAQs

How can I use "behind time" in a sentence?

You can use "behind time" to describe situations where something is late or not on schedule. For example, "I apologize for being behind time for the meeting" or "The delivery is behind time due to unforeseen circumstances."

What's a good alternative to "behind time"?

Alternatives include "behind schedule", "running late", or simply stating that something is delayed. The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "behind of time" instead of "behind time"?

No, "behind of time" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrase is "behind time". Using "of" is unnecessary and changes the meaning.

How does "behind time" differ from "behind the times" /s/behind+the+times?

"Behind time" refers to being late or off schedule. On the other hand, "behind the times" indicates that someone or something is outdated or not modern. They have very different meanings.