lag C2+ Topic:Verbs of Movement US /læɡ/ UK /læɡ/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to fall behind or move slowly; a delay between events There is always a lag between policy and its real-world effects. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to fall behind or move... delaydawdlelingertarrytrailloiterlapseinterval ↔ Opposites leadhastenhurryrush Word family Derived forms laggardlagging Etymology AI details Of uncertain origin, perhaps from a Scandinavian source or a dialectal English word meaning 'last, slow'; possibly originally a children's game term. Topics Verbs of Movement External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # lag **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /læɡ/ **IPA (UK):** /læɡ/ ## Meanings 1. to fall behind or move slowly; a delay between events ## Examples - There is always a lag between policy and its real-world effects. ## Synonyms - delay - dawdle - linger - tarry - trail - loiter - lapse - interval ## Antonyms - lead - hasten - hurry - rush ## Derived Forms - laggard - lagging ## Etymology Of uncertain origin, perhaps from a Scandinavian source or a dialectal English word meaning 'last, slow'; possibly originally a children's game term. ## AI Etymology Lag is of uncertain origin, perhaps from a Scandinavian source or a dialectal English word meaning 'last, slow'; possibly originally a children's game term. The form preserves a compact historical development in which the older wording and the present sense remain closely connected. As a verb and noun, it means "to fall behind or move slowly; a delay between events", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Derivative forms include laggard, lagging. ## Topics - Verbs of Movement markdown