failed; failing; fails
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.
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
… our nation's greatest resource is our youth. … It has … never failed an invincible courage …—
Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur3
: 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.
plural fails
Examples of fail in a Sentence
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
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Such a bond occurs when a judge grants a compassionate release for inmates who are in failing health and no longer a threat to the community.
—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2026
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
22 June 2026
But there is one moment that signals the end of her day, every day, without fail.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
From 1994 to 2018, Mexico failed to win a World Cup knockout game and, in 2022, failed to advance past the group stage — its worst showing at a World Cup since 1978.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Such a bond occurs when a judge grants a compassionate release for inmates who are in failing health and no longer a threat to the community.
—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2026
Noun
And seriously, without fail, I got completely sucked into Oprah’s magic.
—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
22 June 2026
But there is one moment that signals the end of her day, every day, without fail.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Cite this Entry
“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fail. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fail
1 of 2 verb1
a
: to lose strength : weaken
failing eyesight
b
: to stop functioning
the engine failed
2
a
: to fall short
failed in their duty
b
: to become absent or lacking
the power failed
c
: to be unsuccessful (as in passing an examination)
d
: to grade as not passing
fail a student
e
: to become bankrupt
3
: disappoint, desert
fail a friend in need
4
: to leave undone : neglect
fail to answer the telephone
fail
2 of 2 noun
: failure sense 1
—usually used in the phrase without fail
Medical Definition
fail
intransitive verb1
: to weaken or lose strength
her health was failing
2
: to stop functioning normally
the patient's heart failed
Legal Definition
fail
intransitive verb1
: 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
Uniform Commercial Code2
: to become bankrupt or insolvent
: to leave undone or neglect to do
fail to appear in court
fail to read a contract
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