Pronunciations
-
/feɪl/
Verb
To be unsuccessful.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
-
Throughout my life, I have always failed.
More examples (2)
If they ſhoulde gyue battayle it was to be doubted, leaſt through treaſon amõgſt themſelues, the armie ſhould be betrayed into the enimies hands, the which would not fayle to execute all kinde of crueltie in the ſlaughter of the whole nation.
As the world’s drug habit shows, governments are failing in their quest to monitor every London window-box and Andean hillside for banned plants. But even that Sisyphean task looks easy next to the fight against synthetic drugs. No sooner has a drug been blacklisted than chemists adjust their recipe and start churning out a subtly different one.
Not to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.)
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The truck failed to start.
To neglect.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors.
Those who have advocated the closure of the G.C. have so far failed to say by which alternative route this North-to-West traffic could be carried.
Of a machine, etc.: to cease to operate correctly.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
-
After running five minutes, the engine failed.
More examples (1)
We also found that the only emergency egress from the tram was by smashing the front or rear windscreens, and that emergency lighting had failed when the tram overturned.
To be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert; to disappoint one's expectations.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
I've failed my parents many times growing up.
There shall not fail thee a man on the throne.
More examples (3)
A poor Irish Widow […] went forth with her three children, bare of all resource, to solicit help from the Charitable Establishments of that City. At this Charitable Establishment and then at that she was refused; referred from one to the other, helped by none; — till she had exhausted them all; till her strength and heart failed her: she sank down in typhus-fever […]
That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence.
I think... I might've... failed Pomni. Just like I failed Jax. Try too hard to get on their good side, and then I just... end up pushing them away! And then they end up hating me!
To receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.
Usage- Transitive or intransitive
- Examples
-
I failed English last year.
To give a student a non-passing grade in an academic endeavour.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The professor failed me because I did not complete any of the course assignments.
To miss attaining; to lose.
Usage- Obsolete
- Transitive
- Examples
-
though that seat of earthly bliss be failed
To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence.
- Examples
-
The crops failed last year.
as the waters fail from the sea
More examples (1)
Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign.
To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; used with of.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
-
If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not to be attributed to their size.
To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
-
When earnestly they seek / Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail.
To deteriorate in respect to vigour, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
-
A sick man fails.
To perish; to die; used of a person.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
-
had the king in his last sickness failed
To err in judgment; to be mistaken.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
-
Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps / Shall grieve him, if I fail not.
To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
"But you cannot tell where she went on leaving here?" Robert asked, despondingly. "No, sir; missus says she believes the lady failed, and that she left sudden like, and didn't want her address to be known in the neighbourhood."
Noun
A failure, especially of a financial transaction (a termination of an action).
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A failing grade in an academic examination.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A failure (something incapable of success).
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
Poor quality; substandard workmanship.
Usage- Slang
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
The project was full of fail.
Adjective
Unsuccessful; inadequate; unacceptable in some way.
Usage- US usage
- Slang
Noun
A piece of turf cut from grassland.
Verb
fail to do something; leave something undone
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib
The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account
be unsuccessful
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
Where do today's public schools fail?
The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably
disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
His sense of smell failed him this time
His strength finally failed him
More examples (1)
His children failed him in the crisis
stop operating or functioning
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The engine finally went
The car died on the road
More examples (4)
The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
The coffee maker broke
The engine failed on the way to town
her eyesight went after the accident
be unable
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
I fail to understand your motives
judge unacceptable
- Antonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The teacher failed six students
fail to get a passing grade
- Antonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
She studied hard but failed nevertheless
Did I fail the test?
fall short in what is expected
- Examples
-
She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law
We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust
become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close
- Examples
-
The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor
A number of banks failed that year
prove insufficient
- Examples
-
The water supply for the town failed after a long drought
deteriorate
- Examples
-
Her health is declining