fail

1 of 2

verb

ˈfāl

failed; failing; fails

intransitive verb

: to lose strength : weaken

her health was failing

: to fade or die away

until our family line fails

: to stop functioning normally

the patient's heart failed

: to fall short

failed in his duty

: to be or become absent or inadequate

the water supply failed

: to be unsuccessful

the marriage failed

specifically : to be unsuccessful in achieving a passing grade

took the exam and failed

: to become bankrupt or insolvent

banks were failing

transitive verb

: to disappoint the expectations or trust of

her friends failed her

: to miss performing an expected service or function for

his wit failed him

: to be deficient in : lack

never failed an invincible courage

Douglas MacArthur

: to leave undone : neglect

fail to lock the door

: to be unsuccessful in passing

failed chemistry

: to grade (someone, such as a student) as not passing

The teacher failed only his two worst students.

failingly

ˈfā-liŋ-lē How to pronounce fail (audio)

adverb

fail

2 of 2

noun

: failure

—usually used in the phrase without fail

Every day, without fail, he has toast and coffee for breakfast.

: a failure (as by a security dealer) to deliver or receive securities within a prescribed period after purchase or sale

Example Sentences

Verb He failed in his first attempt but succeeded in his second attempt. His first company failed, but his second company succeeded. He felt that he had failed her when she needed him most. The government has failed the voters.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Like every building in town, the hotel kept its lights off—a necessary defensive tactic, but hardly fail-safe.

Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 As far as the average fan is concerned, if the Dodgers fail to win the World Series, Roberts will be at fault.

Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Chelsea has also lost two of its first six games — to Leeds and Southampton — in an underwhelming start to the Premier League that has seen the team's new signings fail to gel.

Steve Douglas, ajc, 7 Sep. 2022 Among those backing the tax Wednesday, Gaby Ortigoni, president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, said the county’s existing, inefficient transit options fail workers who depend on public transportation to get to their jobs.

Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 The District has long deployed a False Claims Act to pursue, for example, contractors who over-bill or fail to complete construction projects.

Shawn Tully, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2022 The Bruins defense should have little trouble stopping the Hornets offense, especially if the Hornets fail to hang on to the ball.

Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 Agee Smith’s father got so angry at beavers in part because the sides of their dams would fail during the rush of the spring snow melt, sending damaging sediment onto his hayfields.

The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Managing money is an essential life skill, yet most U.S. adults would fail a financial literacy test.

Liz Weston, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2022

Noun

Everyone involved, without fail, commended Hanzman for designing the structure of the case and setting its tone and pace.

Patricia Mazzei, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 Each day without fail, the sign displays a new message, occasionally commenting on a current event or just offering up some snarky musing.

Abigail Rosenthal, Chron, 29 Aug. 2022 The brown sugar flavor was amazing, but my first try at cooking the boba—using the boiling water method—was a fail, the boba too dry and not bouncy enough, probably because the water in the cup cooled before the boba could cook.

Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2022 European butter adds a slight tanginess to the dough and because the butter has less water than American butter, your pastry will bake up golden, flaky and crisp without fail.

Robin Miller, USA TODAY, 21 Aug. 2022 European butter adds a slight tanginess to the dough and because the butter has less water than American butter, your pastry will bake up golden, flaky and crisp without fail.

Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2022 During one of New Orleans' frequent surprise rain showers, the driver will stop the car and swiftly move through the interior closing all the windows—almost without fail locals and tourists alike will get the message and start helping, too.

Nathaniel Adams, Chron, 15 Aug. 2022 Chandler said that the three fail-safes - an app, a pin-pad and a fingerprint - manufactured into the smart gun can help combat some of those preventable deaths.

Haley Yamada, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2022 But they were done with specificity and without fail for each patient.

Terry Demio, The Enquirer, 8 Aug. 2022 See More

Kids Definition

fail 1 of 2

verb

ˈfāl

failed; failing

: to be unsuccessful

He failed the test.

: to grade as not passing

My teacher failed me.

: to stop functioning

The engine failed.

: to be or become absent or not enough

The water supply failed.

: to become bankrupt

The business failed.

: neglect entry 1 sense 2

Don't fail to ask if you need my help.

: disappoint, desert

I need your help. Please don't fail me.

: to lose strength : weaken

She's failing in health.

: to fall short

One drink failed to satisfy my thirst.

: to die away

The family line failed.

fail

2 of 2

noun

: failure sense 2

We met daily without fail.

单词	failed
释义	fail 1 of 2 verb ˈfāl failed; failing; fails intransitive verb 1 a : to lose strength : weaken her health was failing b : to fade or die away until our family line fails c : to stop functioning normally the patient's heart failed 2 a : to fall short failed in his duty b : to be or become absent or inadequate the water supply failed c : to be unsuccessful the marriage failed specifically : to be unsuccessful in achieving a passing grade took the exam and failed d : to become bankrupt or insolvent banks were failing transitive verb 1 a : to disappoint the expectations or trust of her friends failed her b : to miss performing an expected service or function for his wit failed him 2 : to be deficient in : lack never failed an invincible courage Douglas MacArthur 3 : to leave undone : neglect fail to lock the door 4 a : to be unsuccessful in passing failed chemistry b : to grade (someone, such as a student) as not passing The teacher failed only his two worst students. failingly ˈfā-liŋ-lē adverb fail 2 of 2 noun 1 : failure —usually used in the phrase without fail Every day, without fail, he has toast and coffee for breakfast. 2 : a failure (as by a security dealer) to deliver or receive securities within a prescribed period after purchase or sale Synonyms Verb break break down conk (out) crash cut out die give out stall See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb He failed in his first attempt but succeeded in his second attempt. His first company failed, but his second company succeeded. He felt that he had failed her when she needed him most. The government has failed the voters. Recent Examples on the Web Verb Like every building in town, the hotel kept its lights off—a necessary defensive tactic, but hardly fail-safe. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 As far as the average fan is concerned, if the Dodgers fail to win the World Series, Roberts will be at fault. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Chelsea has also lost two of its first six games — to Leeds and Southampton — in an underwhelming start to the Premier League that has seen the team's new signings fail to gel. Steve Douglas, ajc, 7 Sep. 2022 Among those backing the tax Wednesday, Gaby Ortigoni, president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, said the county’s existing, inefficient transit options fail workers who depend on public transportation to get to their jobs. Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 The District has long deployed a False Claims Act to pursue, for example, contractors who over-bill or fail to complete construction projects. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2022 The Bruins defense should have little trouble stopping the Hornets offense, especially if the Hornets fail to hang on to the ball. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 Agee Smith’s father got so angry at beavers in part because the sides of their dams would fail during the rush of the spring snow melt, sending damaging sediment onto his hayfields. The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Managing money is an essential life skill, yet most U.S. adults would fail a financial literacy test. Liz Weston, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2022 Noun Everyone involved, without fail, commended Hanzman for designing the structure of the case and setting its tone and pace. Patricia Mazzei, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 Each day without fail, the sign displays a new message, occasionally commenting on a current event or just offering up some snarky musing. Abigail Rosenthal, Chron, 29 Aug. 2022 The brown sugar flavor was amazing, but my first try at cooking the boba—using the boiling water method—was a fail, the boba too dry and not bouncy enough, probably because the water in the cup cooled before the boba could cook. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2022 European butter adds a slight tanginess to the dough and because the butter has less water than American butter, your pastry will bake up golden, flaky and crisp without fail. Robin Miller, USA TODAY, 21 Aug. 2022 European butter adds a slight tanginess to the dough and because the butter has less water than American butter, your pastry will bake up golden, flaky and crisp without fail. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2022 During one of New Orleans' frequent surprise rain showers, the driver will stop the car and swiftly move through the interior closing all the windows—almost without fail locals and tourists alike will get the message and start helping, too. Nathaniel Adams, Chron, 15 Aug. 2022 Chandler said that the three fail-safes - an app, a pin-pad and a fingerprint - manufactured into the smart gun can help combat some of those preventable deaths. Haley Yamada, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2022 But they were done with specificity and without fail for each patient. Terry Demio, The Enquirer, 8 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Verb and Noun Middle English failen, from Anglo-French faillir, from Vulgar Latin fallire, alteration of Latin fallere* to deceive, disappoint First Known Use Verb 13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a Noun 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing fail fail-safe pass-fail fail to see/understand words fail someone without fail fail-safe pass-fail fail to see/understand words fail someone without fail Kids Definition fail 1 of 2 verb ˈfāl failed; failing 1 : to be unsuccessful He failed the test. 2 : to grade as not passing My teacher failed me. 3 : to stop functioning The engine failed. 4 : to be or become absent or not enough The water supply failed. 5 : to become bankrupt The business failed. 6 : neglect entry 1 sense 2 Don't fail to ask if you need my help. 7 : disappoint, desert I need your help. Please don't fail me. 8 : to lose strength : weaken She's failing in health. 9 : to fall short One drink failed to satisfy my thirst. 10 : to die away The family line failed. fail 2 of 2 noun : failure sense 2 We met daily without fail. Medical Definition fail intransitive verb ˈfā(ə)l 1 : to weaken or lose strength her health was failing 2 : to stop functioning normally the patient's heart failed Legal Definition fail intransitive verb 1 : to be or become inadequate or unsuccessful especially in fulfilling certain formal requirements even if one or more terms are left open, a contract for sale does not fail for indefiniteness Uniform Commercial Code 2 : to become bankrupt or insolvent transitive verb : to leave undone or neglect to do fail to appear in court fail to read a contract failed 1 of 2 adjective 1 as in unsuccessful Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance unsuccessful failing inauspicious declining collapsing flunking unpromising destroyed bankrupt folding hopeless waning slipping flopping ruined slumping futureless wrecked washing-out no-good kaputt kerflooey kaput Antonyms & Near Antonyms successful going triumphant promising prosperous thriving flourishing coming robust palmy growing booming roaring See More 2 as in inadequate Synonyms & Similar Words inadequate disappointing deficient atrocious inferior representative unsatisfactory execrable normal typical average ordinary vile poor wretched substandard mediocre bad low-grade second-rate second-class Antonyms & Near Antonyms definitive model exemplary quintessential special classic unique paradigmatic ideal perfect archetypal flawless archetypical impeccable imitable textbook absolute nonpareil See More failed 2 of 2 verb past tense of fail 1 as in died to stop functioning my car failed just as I was about to head to work Synonyms & Similar Words died crashed stalled broke fizzled malfunctioned broke down gave out cut out sputtered jammed conked (out) wheezed acted up Antonyms & Near Antonyms started (up) 2 as in collapsed to be unsuccessful despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office Synonyms & Similar Words collapsed struggled flopped missed folded bombed flunked declined foundered tanked struck out crashed fell flat fell short cratered came up empty washed out slipped floundered flamed out died on the vine waned misfired slumped crumbled skidded laid an egg came to grief fell on one's face imploded sunk came a cropper miscarried sank went under self-destructed Antonyms & Near Antonyms succeeded went delivered clicked worked out went over thrived flourished prospered won cooked came off prevailed triumphed panned out throve See More 3 as in disappointed to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal Synonyms & Similar Words disappointed dissatisfied let down upset cheated displeased deceived disillusioned chagrined distressed disenchanted discontented deluded disgruntled mocked bummed (out) Antonyms & Near Antonyms satisfied gratified fulfilled contented gladdened 4 as in weakened to lose bodily strength or vigor ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing Synonyms & Similar Words weakened faded went sagged sunk sank lagged drooped languished flagged wilted decayed withered deteriorated yielded emaciated rotted wore out wasted (away) broke down degenerated ran down Antonyms & Near Antonyms recovered rebounded rallied recuperated gained convalesced 5 as in forgot to miss the opportunity or obligation failed to mention that he was looking for new job Synonyms & Similar Words forgot neglected omitted ignored disregarded skipped defaulted missed out on slipped passed over overlooked slid overpassed pretermitted slighted Antonyms & Near Antonyms did remembered heeded observed performed kept executed minded practised practiced satisfied met fulfilled discharged carried out complied (with) See More
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fail

verb

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing fail

Kids Definition

verb

noun

Medical Definition

intransitive verb

Legal Definition

intransitive verb

adjective

verb