To straggle means to lag behind or spread out in a disorganized way, falling away from the main group. When a class walks to the library, a few students might straggle behind, walking slowly or stopping to tie their shoes while everyone else moves ahead. Hikers on a trail sometimes straggle, with some racing ahead while others drift back, turning a tight group into a long, scattered line.

Plants can straggle too. A vine might grow in a messy, wandering way instead of climbing neatly up a fence. Gardeners talk about straggly plants that look unkempt and sprawling.

The word carries a sense of being loose and disorganized rather than purposefully separated. A straggler is someone who falls behind, often because they're tired, distracted, or moving at their own pace. When a coach counts heads after practice, she's making sure no stragglers were left behind.