Fall behind
Fall behind verb - Hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc..
Start and fall behind are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Start" instead a verb "Fall behind".
Start
Start verb - To move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise).
Fall behind and start are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Fall behind" instead a verb "Start".
Both terms in one sentence
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Steve and Artie start to fall behind on their reading as well, with Artie, at the start of Season 5, citing turning evil and trying to destroy the world in Season 4 as his excuse.
Source: Series / Warehouse 13 - Carlotta's rendition of "Think of Me" is interrupted when the Phantom causes a backdrop to fall behind her, and later he causes her to start croaking in the middle of an aria.
Source: Musicalis Interruptus - But later in the game, when Warlocks, Devils, Angels and Princesses start popping up with the ability to use the same spells multiple times per battle, the Opinion Leader starts to fall behind.
Source: Crutch Character
Cite this Source
Start and Fall behind. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/fall_behind/start
Fall behind & Start. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/fall_behind/start>.
Start or Fall behind. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/fall_behind/start.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "fall behind" and "start" have occurred on timeline