lag
gb/lˈæɡ/ us/lˈæɡ/
B1
English
~ 7100
késés, lemarad, sittes, börtöntöltelék, hőszigetel
NOUN
B2
1
késés
A2
Usage pattern:
a lag between [one thing] and [another thing]
There is always a lag between new laws being passed and their effects being seen.
Mindig van némi késés az új törvények elfogadása és aközött, hogy a hatásuk megmutatkozik.
Because of the video lag, we kept talking over each other on the call.
A videó késése miatt folyton egymás szavába vágtunk a hívásban.
The economic data are published with a two‑month lag.
Gamers complain that even a small input lag can ruin the experience.
The app shows messages in real time, with almost no lag at all.
Learner examples
There is a short lag between the sound and the picture.
Rövid késés van a hang és a kép között.
We noticed a lag between sending the file and getting a reply.
Késést vettünk észre a fájl elküldése és a válasz megérkezése között.
The website has a big lag when many people use it.
The results come with a time lag of one week.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "lag" with "lack" because they sound similar. "Lag" is about time delay, while "lack" means not having enough of something. Also, learners may say *"a delay lag"*; usually you choose one word: "a delay" or "a lag", not both together.
Meaning
a delay between events
Collocations
time lag
|a slight lag
|a lag between
|input lag
|network lag
Synonyms
delay (Most general word; can be any kind of waiting or lateness, not only between related events.)
|
latency (More technical, especially for computers and networks; often measured in milliseconds.)
Antonyms
immediacy (Emphasizes that something happens at once, with no noticeable gap in time.)
Themes
technology
|business
|science
|daily life
|time
Definition
A period of time when something is slow to happen or happens later than another thing.
A period of time when something happens later than another related event or later than expected.
VERB
B1
2
lemarad
B1
Usage pattern:
to lag behind [someone/something]
Our technology is starting to lag behind that of our competitors.
A technológiánk kezd lemaradni a versenytársainkétól.
He lagged behind the rest of the group as we climbed the hill.
Ahogy felfelé kapaszkodtunk a dombra, lemaradt a csoport többi tagjától.
Wage growth continues to lag behind inflation.
Rural areas often lag in access to high‑speed internet.
The project is lagging because we do not have enough staff.
Learner examples
He is lagging behind in his English class.
Lemarad a többiektől az angolórán.
Walk faster or you will lag behind the group.
Menj gyorsabban, különben lemaradsz a csoporttól.
Our team lags behind the others in points.
Their company lags in using new technology.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"lag after"* instead of "lag behind". The normal phrase is "lag behind [someone/something]". Another mistake is using "lag" where "be late" is needed; "lag" is about being slower than others in progress, not simply arriving late to a place.
Meaning
to move or develop too slowly
Collocations
lag behind
|lag far behind
|lag in performance
|growth lags
|sales lag
Synonyms
fall behind (Very close in meaning; slightly more informal and more common in everyday speech.)
|
trail (Suggests being behind, often in a competition or ranking; can sound a bit more formal or written.)
Antonyms
keep up with (Expresses staying at the same level or speed as others instead of being slower.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go or grow more slowly than others and be behind them.
To move, develop, or progress more slowly than others, so that you are or it is behind them in position, level, or progress.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
sittes
C1
Usage pattern:
an old lag
The film follows an old lag who is trying to go straight after his release.
A film egy öreg sittest követ, aki a szabadulása után megpróbál jó útra térni.
The other lags warned him not to trust the new guard.
A többi sittes figyelmeztette, hogy ne bízzon az új őrben.
As a hardened lag, he knew all the tricks of life inside.
The prison held a mix of first‑time offenders and seasoned lags.
Reporters interviewed several lags about conditions in the jail.
Learner examples
The story is about an old lag who leaves prison.
A történet egy öreg sittesről szól, aki szabadul a börtönből.
He talks like a real lag from a crime movie.
Úgy beszél, mint egy igazi sittes egy bűnözős filmből.
The prison is full of lags with long records.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is common in all English varieties. In fact, "lag" for "prisoner" is mainly British and informal, and it is mostly used in writing about crime or in dialogue, not in careful formal speech.
Meaning
a prisoner, often habitual
Collocations
old lag
|hardened lag
|career lag
Synonyms
prisoner (Neutral and standard; does not suggest repeated crimes.)
|
con (Informal, mainly North American; general word for a convict or prisoner.)
Antonyms
law-abiding citizen (Describes someone who follows the law and has not been in prison.)
Themes
crime
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An informal British word for a person in prison, especially someone who has been there many times.
An informal word, mainly in British English, for a prisoner, especially someone who has been in prison many times.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
4
hőszigetel
B2
Usage pattern:
to lag [pipes/boiler/tank]
It is cheaper to lag the pipes than to replace the entire heating system.
Olcsóbb hőszigetelni a csöveket, mint kicserélni az egész fűtési rendszert.
Make sure the hot‑water tank is properly lagged before winter.
Ügyelj rá, hogy a melegvíz-tartály még tél előtt megfelelően hőszigetelve legyen.
We had the loft insulated and the boiler lagged at the same time.
Learner examples
They will lag the hot‑water pipes before it gets cold.
Hőszigetelni fogják a melegvíz-csöveket, mielőtt hideg lesz.
The tank is well lagged to keep the water hot.
A tartály jól hőszigetelt, hogy a víz meleg maradjon.
You should lag the pipes to save energy.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this verb is mainly British and technical. In general English, "insulate" is safer and more widely understood.
Meaning
to cover with insulation
Collocations
lag the pipes
|lag a boiler
|properly lagged
|well‑lagged tank
Synonyms
insulate (More general and more common in both everyday and technical language.)
Antonyms
expose (Leaving the surface uncovered so heat can escape freely.)
Themes
construction
|science
|housing
|work
Definition
To cover pipes, a boiler, or another surface with special material so that heat does not escape, mainly in British English.
To cover something such as pipes, a boiler, or a tank with insulating material in order to reduce heat loss, mainly in British technical or trade usage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lag
IPA
GB/lˈæɡ/
US/lˈæɡ/
Syllables & stress
lag (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lag)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: lag
- Plural: lags
Verb
- Base: lag
- 3rd Person Singular: lags
- Present Participle: lagging
- Past: lagged
Word family
Forms
lags
noun
lagging
verb
lagged
verb
Related words
laggy
adjective
laggard
noun
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: lagging Verb
- Irregular past: lagged Verb
Expressions
input lag
1/ˈɪnpˌʊt lˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
technical
delay between input and response
The time delay between when you press a button or move a control and when the computer, TV, or game shows the result.
Examples
- This monitor has very low input lag, which is great for gaming.
- High input lag can make fast‑paced games feel unresponsive.
jet lag
1/d͡ʒˈɛt lˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
tiredness after long flights
The feeling of being very tired and not able to sleep normally after a long flight across different time zones.
Examples
- She had terrible jet lag after flying from New York to Tokyo.
- Give yourself a day to recover from jet lag before the meeting.
lag behind
1/lˈæɡ bɪhˈaɪnd/
phrasal verb
move or develop more slowly
To move, grow, or improve more slowly than others so that you are behind them.
Examples
- Our country continues to lag behind its neighbors in digital infrastructure.
- If you lag behind during the hike, the guide will ask you to turn back.
- Students who miss classes often lag behind their classmates.
network lag
1/nˈɛtwˌɚk lˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
technical
delay in network data transfer
Slow or delayed movement of data on the internet or a computer network, which makes things like calls or games feel slow.
Examples
- We lost the match because of heavy network lag during the final minutes.
- Video calls often freeze when there is network lag.
old lag
1/ˈoʊld lˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
informal
experienced criminal or prisoner
An informal British expression for someone who has been in prison many times.
Examples
- The character is an old lag who knows every trick in the prison system.
- Only an old lag like him could survive that place for so long.
there is a lag between
1/ðˈɛɹ ˈɪz ə lˈæɡ bɪtwˈin/
fixed phrase
state where one event follows later
Used to say that one thing happens later than another related thing.
Examples
- There is a lag between doing exercise and seeing results.
- In many countries, there is a lag between economic growth and higher wages.
time lag
1/tˈaɪm lˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
delay between cause and effect
A period of time between one event and another related event, especially between a cause and its result.
Examples
- There is usually a time lag between changes in interest rates and changes in consumer spending.
- Because of the time lag in reporting, the figures do not show the latest situation.
with a time lag
1/wˈɪθ ə tˈaɪm lˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
occurring after a delay
Used to say that something happens later than something else by a certain amount of time.
Examples
- Changes in policy usually affect the real economy with a time lag.
- The symptoms often appear with a time lag of several days.