was lagging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was lagging' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe an activity that is behind, delayed, or slow. For example: "The progress of the project was lagging, so the manager had to devise a new strategy to get back on track."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Fund-raising was lagging, too.

The New York Times

But Virginia, it seemed, was lagging.

The New York Times

Even before Thursday's debacle, Johnson was lagging in those surveys.

The Guardian

Chacin's arm was lagging behind his body in his delivery.

The New York Times - Sports

The business synergies never materialized and the stock was lagging.

The New York Times

Canisters in local shops were filling with coins, but otherwise response to the project was lagging.

The New York Times

Even before last week, Romney was lagging far behind Obama in polls of women voters.

The New Yorker

He ran for attorney general this year, but was lagging and dropped out of the primary.

The New York Times

Moreover, the board's fund-raising was lagging behind the goal he deemed essential.

The New York Times - Arts

Only AXA Rosenberg U.S. Small Capitalization was lagging its peer group.

The New York Times

I squinted down the summit ridge for Stanley, who was lagging a few minutes behind.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, use the phrase to describe systemic delays or performance issues in hardware and software.

Common error

Do not confuse "was lagging" (meaning falling behind) with "was lacking" (meaning missing something). For instance, 'The team was lagging energy' is incorrect; it should be 'The team was lacking energy' or 'The team's energy "was lagging"'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was lagging" serves as a past continuous verb phrase. It consists of the auxiliary verb "was" and the present participle "lagging". According to Ludwig, it functions to describe an ongoing state of slowness or delay that occurred in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

0.5%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was lagging" is a robust and versatile expression in English, used primarily to denote that a subject is not keeping up with a required pace or a competitor's progress. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and is a staple in high-level reporting across financial, political, and technical domains. Whether you are describing a slow-moving political campaign, a technical delay in a software application, or an economy failing to grow as quickly as its neighbors, "was lagging" provides a clear and professional way to communicate a lack of momentum. To avoid repetition, writers can also employ alternatives like "was falling behind" or "was underperforming" depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was falling behind

Emphasizes the increasing distance between the subject and a leader or goal.

was trailing

Commonly used in sports or competitive rankings to denote a second-place position or lower.

was struggling to keep pace

Adds a nuance of effort and difficulty in maintaining a required speed.

was underperforming

Provides a more professional or financial tone when results do not meet expectations.

was failing to match

Highlights a direct comparison where the subject is not meeting a specific benchmark.

was losing ground

An idiomatic expression suggesting a loss of an established position or advantage.

was sluggish

Describes a general state of slowness or lack of energy in the subject.

was experiencing a delay

Shifts the focus from the subject's speed to an external or systemic holdup.

was showing latency

A technical alternative specifically for computing and signal transmission delays.

was decelerating

Focuses on the reduction of speed rather than just being behind.

FAQs

What does it mean if an economy "was lagging"?

It indicates that the economic growth or recovery of a region was slower than its peers or historical averages. You might also say it "was underperforming".

Is "was lagging" appropriate for formal reports?

Yes, it is a standard term in business and news reporting. For a more formal tone, you could use "was experiencing a delay" or "was failing to keep pace".

How do I use "was lagging" in a technical sense?

In tech, it refers to a delay between an action and a response. For example, 'The server "was lagging" during peak hours'. A more specific term would be "was experiencing latency".

What is the difference between "was lagging" and "was falling behind"?

While nearly synonymous, "was lagging" often implies a slow state, whereas "was falling behind" suggests a widening gap in a competition.