behind the times

idiom

: not having or showing knowledge of current ideas or styles : outdated, old-fashioned
The entire country is behind the times when it comes to protecting the environment.
Our professor is surprisingly behind the times.

Examples of behind the times in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In other words, Apple’s iPhone display is beginning to look a little behind the times. David Phelan, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024 The sound reaches for modern but still feels a solid decade behind the times, forgoing the specificity and nuance that makes the musical style interesting in favor of bland crowd-pleasing platitudes. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 14 June 2024 Last week's death of O.J. Simpson, whose murder trial beamed live from a California courtroom captivated a nation three decades ago, was a telling reminder of how New York is behind the times — or, at least, a holdout. David Bauder, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024 Leaders who voiced such views, such as Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, were dismissed as eccentrics, their ideas behind the times. Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for behind the times 

Dictionary Entries Near behind the times

Cite this Entry

“Behind the times.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20times. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!