behindhand
adjective
UK/bɪˈhaɪnd.hænd/US/bɪˈhaɪnd.hænd/
Late or slow in doing something; behind in progress or in the performance of obligations (such as payments or tasks).
Example Sentences
He found himself behindhand in paying his rent, prompting an urgent reminder from his landlord.
The team fell behindhand on the project, causing them to work overtime to meet the looming deadline.
If you’re consistently behindhand with your tasks, consider reorganizing your schedule to avoid further delays.
The student’s assignments were behindhand, leading to extra work and a stern warning from the teacher.
Avoiding a behindhand status on bills is crucial for maintaining a solid credit rating.
Despite her best efforts, she was behindhand on the paperwork after returning from a week-long trip.
Realizing he was behindhand with his presentation, John stayed up all night to finalize every detail, hoping to avoid embarrassing himself in front of the panel.
The travelers worried they would be behindhand on their connecting train due to the initial delay, which threatened to disrupt their entire tour schedule.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Delayed or behind schedule in tasks or duties.“Behindhand” is an adjective describing someone or something that is late or behind schedule. You might use it when people have fallen behind on their responsibilities, like missing deadlines or payments, or when their progress lags compared to a set timeline. For instance, you could say, “She’s behindhand with her rent this month,” indicating the payment is overdue. Or you might hear, “We’re behindhand on the project,” conveying that tasks are not being completed on time.In everyday writing, “behindhand” works best in slightly formal or literary contexts, where you wish to emphasize the idea of tardiness or delay. You may see it in articles or essays discussing social or historical issues, e.g., “The library remained behindhand in adopting digital catalogs.” It effectively underscores that something is overdue, that there’s an accumulation of backlog, or that deadlines have not been met.When deciding how to incorporate “behindhand,” ensure the surrounding language suits a more formal or thoughtful tone. If your audience is less accustomed to older or somewhat archaic expressions, you might want to provide context or use it alongside modern synonyms like “behind schedule” or “overdue.” It often carries connotations of duty or responsibility—especially related to finances, tasks, or obligations—so it subtly suggests there’s a standard or deadline that one is failing to meet. Using it can add a tone of gentle reproach or formality, as though pointing out an unfulfilled requirement that should have been finished earlier.To practice, try weaving “behindhand” into a sentence that calls attention to a delay: “The committee was behindhand in delivering its final report.” This conveys that the committee missed its due date or left matters unresolved longer than expected. Likewise, in more personal contexts, “He’s always behindhand with answering emails,” emphasizes a repeated pattern of tardiness. Overall, “behindhand” is a precise word that lends a touch of older, somewhat formal flavor to your writing, perfect for describing persistent lateness or missed timelines in tasks and obligations.
Alternatives
If you want to avoid repeating “behindhand” or need to capture a similar idea with different nuances, you might try several synonyms. “Late” is the simplest choice, although it can apply to anything delayed and lacks the formal or mildly reproachful tone of “behindhand.” “Tardy” also indicates something past its expected time, often used in school or workplace contexts (“tardy to class”), but it usually references punctuality in arriving at an event rather than general backlog. “Overdue” is a suitable alternative when highlighting a missed deadline or payment: “His fees are overdue.” Similarly, “behind schedule” works well for projects or processes that have not met their planned timelines. “Remiss” might be used if you want to imply negligence or irresponsibility—“They were remiss in updating the website on time.” Meanwhile, “delinquent” conveys an even stronger rebuke, often referring to unpaid debts or serious lapses: “He’s delinquent in his taxes.” “In arrears” zeroes in on an unpaid financial obligation, often used in business or legal contexts: “The account is in arrears,” meaning scheduled payments or installments are late. None of these synonyms quite replicate “behindhand” exactly; many are simpler or narrower in scope. “Behindhand” subtly suggests that a person or entity has drifted into lateness or owes more than they can promptly handle—like being behind in both time and potential consequences. The synonyms are typically more direct or less formal. Depending on the context—work deadlines, personal tasks, financial obligations—consider the level of intensity or disapproval you wish to convey, and pick a word accordingly. “Behindhand” skews slightly archaic or formal, so if you need modern plain speech, you’d likely lean on “behind schedule,” “overdue,” or “late.”
Writing
When writing with the term “behindhand,” you’ll want to choose contexts where this more old-fashioned or formal-sounding expression naturally fits. Perhaps you’re crafting a historical novel where someone is “behindhand with their rent,” or drafting a scholarly essay analyzing how a particular institution lags in adopting new policies. The word interjects a sense of mild critique or ruefulness, hinting that the situation is not merely late but has lingered longer than it should have.If your aim is clarity, pair “behindhand” with explicit references to tasks or deadlines: “The finance department is behindhand in its year-end filings.” This clarifies exactly what’s overdue while underscoring a certain level of formality. In personal writing—like blog posts or diaries—you might use it for stylistic flair, signifying old-fashioned charm. You could say, “I admit I’ve been behindhand in replying to messages,” elevating a simple apology for lateness with a slightly archaic twist.As you incorporate “behindhand,” be mindful of your audience’s familiarity with the term. Not everyone recognizes it as quickly as “late” or “tardy.” If you suspect potential confusion, provide context or synonyms. For academic or professional audiences, “behindhand” can project gravitas, especially in formal texts discussing compliance, finances, or obligations. Literary or historical fiction can also benefit from such an older-sounding term, adding an antiquated tone. Overall, “behindhand” offers a refined alternative for conveying mild admonishment about delayed tasks or payments, bridging historical resonance and succinct clarity. Consider the rhetorical effect: while “late” is plain and direct, “behindhand” feels more nuanced—imbuing your writing with a slightly fusty, formal nuance.
Casual Conversation
In casual speech, you might not hear “behindhand” all that often, given its somewhat old-fashioned ring. However, you can still slip it into everyday conversation if you enjoy sprinkling in archaic or formal-sounding words. For instance, you could jest, “I’m behindhand in cleaning my apartment—sorry if it’s messy,” or “We’re behindhand on our binge-watching schedule.” Most friends might grin at your word choice, recognizing you’re adding a playful sense of drama to otherwise mundane tardiness.If you do use “behindhand” in casual settings—like chatting about incomplete to-do lists—it emphasizes that something is pretty overdue or neglected. But bear in mind, many listeners may do a double take, since it’s less common now than synonyms like “late,” “overdue,” or “behind schedule.” If you don’t mind prompting a quick question—“Behindhand? That’s a new one for me!”—then it can be a fun, stylistic twist. On the other hand, if your goal is to quickly clarify that you’re running late, simpler expressions might be best. Overall, “behindhand” in casual conversation can show personality and flair, especially if you’re comfortable weaving older, somewhat literary terms into your everyday speech. It conveys a gentle sense of not just lateness, but slight guilt or embarrassment too, as if you’re acknowledging you’ve let something slide longer than it should have been allowed to.
Etymology
The term “behindhand” emerged in late Middle English or Early Modern English, blending the words “behind” (indicating lateness or position to the rear) with “hand,” possibly suggesting someone’s dealings or tasks in hand are lagging. Tracing “behind” back to Old English “behindan,” the notion of being “at or to the back” carries a sense of tardiness or lesser priority. Over time, “behindhand” came to represent a state in which someone’s obligations, payments, or tasks were figuratively lingering behind them—unfinished and overdue.Historically, you might find “behindhand” in old ledgers or references to debts, as well as moral or social commentary about individuals who failed to keep up with their obligations. In historical novels or letters, the phrase often describes people who owe money or who have missed deadlines for rent, taxes, or other dues. Some uses appear in British English from the 17th and 18th centuries, describing everything from tardy mail coaches to tradespeople who lacked sufficient funds on time. Over centuries, “behindhand” has mostly preserved its meaning: not merely running late, but actively failing to stay current with financial, social, or professional responsibilities. Its slightly archaic sound may point to older literary usage, but it remains a crisp, distinct word for capturing that mild sense of guilt or shortfall whenever obligations pile up beyond the acceptable margin.
