to be unsuccessful at something
They failed to reach the summit
Try again. Fail again. Fail better — Samuel Beckett
to neglect to do something
failed to notify their parents
said of a machine or part of the body: to stop functioning
to be or become insufficient or inadequate
failing schools
to lose strength; to weaken
retired because of failing health
to fade or die away
in the failing light
to become bankrupt or insolvent
to be unable to reach the required quality or standard in (a test, examination, interview, inspection, etc)
to judge (somebody or something) as having failed an examination, test, etc
to disappoint the expectations or trust of (somebody)
Her friends had failed her
to prove inadequate for (somebody)
His courage failed him
[Middle English failen via Old French from Latin fallire, alteration of fallere to deceive, disappoint]