Lagging definition: what "Lagging" means and examples

February 13, 2026

Experiencing a delay in response time, either technologically or mentally.

While "lagging" technically refers to a slow internet connection causing a delay in a game, it is now used to describe a person who is slow to catch on to a joke or who is feeling physically tired and sluggish. If you ask your child a question and they take five seconds to process it, they might claim they are "lagging." it is a humorous way to blame their lack of immediate mental clarity on "technical issues." It bridges the gap between their digital experiences and their physical state, treating their brain like a computer that occasionally needs a moment to load.

Examples:

  1. "Sorry, I’m lagging today; I only got four hours of sleep last night."
  2. "He is still lagging on that joke we told ten minutes ago; he just finally laughed."
  3. "My brain is totally lagging in this maths lesson; I have no idea what is happening."

We've compiled this dictionary of common teen slang to help parents communicate with their kids. SafetyMode is the world's most advanced parental safety app for phones, making any Android phone safe for kids. You can find out more and download the app just here.

Related words

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A derogatory way to describe someone putting too much effort into a task or a game.

Sweaty / Tryhard definition: what "Sweaty / Tryhard" means and examples

An acronym for "Away From Keyboard," meaning a person is temporarily unavailable or distracted.

AFK definition: what "AFK" means and examples

When one person does the majority of the work to ensure a group’s success.

Carry definition: what "Carry" means and examples

Deliberately making mistakes or failing at a task through lack of effort or poor choices.

Throwing definition: what "Throwing" means and examples

Terms used to describe making something weaker or more powerful, respectively.

Nerf / Buff definition: what "Nerf / Buff" means and examples

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