1 B1 idiomatic neutral
to be late compared with a planned or expected time
"Sorry I'm late — the meeting ran behind."
inseparable
run behind
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
to be late or slower than planned
In plain English
to be later than expected
What does "run behind" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to move behind something while running
Actually means
to be later than expected
Usage tip
Common for schedules, meetings, transport, and personal routines.
Words that pair with "run behind"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
schedule time train meeting project class
How to conjugate "run behind"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
run behind
I/you/we/they
3rd person
runs behind
he/she/it
Past simple
ran behind
yesterday
Past participle
run behind
have + pp
-ing form
running behind
continuous
Hear "run behind" in the wild
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Other ways to say "run behind"
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