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

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

Stacy Thompson, executive director of LivableStreets Alliance, said that if the T failed to meet the FTA’s requirements, federal regulators wouldn’t likely make a move that could shut down service. —John Hilliard, BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2023

Matthew Colangelo, a senior counsel to Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, urged Hellerstein to keep the case as is, arguing in court papers Tuesday that Trump’s lawyers had failed to meet a high legal bar. —Michael R. Sisak, Anchorage Daily News, 31 May 2023

But the Turkish president is skilled at outmaneuvering his adversaries, not least Kilicdaroglu, who is likely at the end of the road of his political career after failing yet again to dethrone Erdogan. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 30 May 2023

Christine Oh, 48, of the 4500 block of Touhy Avenue, Lincolnwood, was arrested May 25 for driving under the influence of alcohol, improper traffic lane use, obstructing the driver’s view and failing to carry or display a driver’s license, police said. —Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2023

Boston was just the fourth team to force a Game 7 in such circumstances but failed to make history. —Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023

The original version of TARP was failing on the House floor. —Chad Pergram, Fox News, 30 May 2023

Netflix’s 10-part series follows strangers Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) as a failing contractor, and Amy Lau (Wong), a successful entrepreneur. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 30 May 2023

The agency’s director was held in contempt of court 12 times last year for failing to provide an appropriate placement for foster children. —Kathryn Hurd, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2023

Noun

If the first five fail but the next five succeed, which is a better outcome? —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 20 Apr. 2023

Every year, no fail! —Korin Miller, Women's Health, 21 Apr. 2023

That was an epic fail. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2023

Or perhaps listening is the big fail. —Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2023

Some thought this looked like a fail. —David Hambling, Forbes, 8 June 2022

And without fail, attendees show up in their best outfits. —Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2023

Touchscreen gloves are easy to find, but scoring a pair that keep hands warm and aren’t a total fail for functionality is another matter entirely. —Danny Perez, Popular Mechanics, 18 Nov. 2022

In other words, a score of 96 could be a fail if those four points represent one of the four-point violations such as improper temperatures for potentially hazardous food or the lack of accessibility to sinks. —Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023

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
• without fail
• fail to see/understand
• words fail someone

• fail-safe
• pass-fail
• without fail
• fail to see/understand
• words fail someone

Kids Definition

fail

1 of 2 verb

ˈfā(ə)l 

1

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 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