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1. Dictionary

   Fail

   /fāl/

   

   verb

   • 1. be unsuccessful in achieving one's goal: "he failed in his attempt to secure election"
   • ▪ be unsuccessful in (an examination, test, or interview): "she failed her finals" Similar be unsuccessful innot passbe found wantingbe found deficientnot make the gradenot pass musternot come up to scratchbe rejectedinformal:flunkOpposite pass
   • ▪ (of a person or a commodity) be unable to meet the standards set by (a test of quality or eligibility): "the player has failed a drug test"
   • ▪ judge (someone, especially in an examination) not to have passed: "the criteria used to pass or fail the candidate"
   • 2. neglect to do something: "the firm failed to give adequate risk warnings"
   • ▪ behave in a way contrary to hopes or expectations by not doing something: "commuter chaos has again failed to materialize"
   • ▪ used to express a strong belief that something must be the case: "you cannot fail to be deeply impressed"
   • ▪ used to indicate that something invariably happens: "such comments never failed to annoy him"
   • ▪ desert or let down (someone): "at the last moment her nerve failed her" Similar let downdisappointbreak one's promise todash someone's hopesfall short of someone's expectationsneglectdesertabandonbetraybe disloyal tobe unfaithful tobreak faith withplay someone falseinformal:do the dirty onbail onarchaic:forsakeOpposite support
   • 3. break down; cease to work well: "a truck whose brakes had failed" Similar break downbreakstop workingcease to functioncut outstopstallcrashgive outmalfunctionact upgo wrongdevelop a faultbe faultybe defectiveinformal:conk outgo kaputgo phutgive up the ghostgo on the blinkbe on the blinkpack upplay upOpposite workbe in working order
   • ▪ become weaker or of poorer quality; die away: "the light began to fail" Similar fadegrow lessgrow dimdimdie awaydwindlewanedisappearvanishpeter outdissolvedeterioratedegeneratedeclinego into declinefadediminishdwindlewaneebbsinkcollapsedecayOpposite improve
   • ▪ (especially of a rain or a crop or supply) be lacking or insufficient when needed or expected: "the drought means crops have failed" Similar be deficientbe wantingbe lackingfall shortbe insufficientbe inadequatenot come to ripenesswitherOpposite thrive
   • ▪ (of a business or a person) be obliged to cease trading because of lack of funds; become bankrupt: "he lost his savings when the store failed" Similar be unsuccessfulnot succeedlack successfall throughfall flatbreak downabortmiscarrybe defeatedsuffer defeatbe in vainbe frustratedcollapsefoundermisfirebackfirenot come up to scratchmeet with disastercome to griefcome to nothingcome to naughtmiss the markrun agroundgo astrayinformal:flopfizzle outflatlinecome a cropperbite the dustbombblow up in someone's facego down like a lead ballooncollapsecrashgo undergo bankruptbecome insolventgo into receivershipbe in the hands of the receiversgo into liquidationcease tradingcease productionbe closedbe shut downclose downbe wound upinformal:foldflopgo bustgo brokego bumpgo to the wallgo belly upOpposite succeedthrive

   noun

   • 1. a grade that is not high enough to pass an examination or test.

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French faillir (verb), faille (noun), based on Latin fallere ‘deceive’.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • F

     4

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryFAIL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   FAIL meaning: 1. to not succeed in what you are trying to achieve or are expected to do: 2. if none of our plans…. Learn more.

3. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › failFail - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › fail

   The verb fail describes something that stops working, like brakes in a car that fail, or is found to be unacceptable, like restaurants that fail their inspection for cleanliness. The verb fail comes from the Old French word faillir, meaning “be lacking,” “miss,” or “not succeed.”

4. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishfail verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Check pronunciation: fail. Definition of fail verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

5. www.thefreedictionary.com › failFail - definition of fail by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › fail

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   1. To disappoint or prove undependable to: Our sentries failed us. 2. To abandon; forsake: His strength failed him. 3. To omit to perform (an expected duty, for example): We must not fail our obligation to the earthquake victims. 4. To leave undone; neglect: failed to wash the dishes. 5. a.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishFAIL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   3 days ago · 11 meanings: 1. to be unsuccessful in an attempt (at something or to do something) 2. to stop operating or working properly 3..... Click for more definitions.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishFAIL | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   to not do what is necessary or expected: John failed to turn up for football practice yesterday. fail verb (EXAM) A2. to not pass a test or an exam, or to decide that someone has not passed: I'm worried about failing my driving test. fail verb (STOP WORKING) B2. to stop working normally, or to become weaker: Two of the plane's engines had failed.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › americanfail verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american

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   verb. /feɪl/ Verb Forms. not succeed. [intransitive, transitive] to not be successful in achieving something Many diets fail because they are boring. a failing business fail in something I failed in my attempt to persuade her. fail to do something She failed to get into law school. The song can't fail to be a hit (= definitely will be a hit).