fail Hear it!

fail Definition

fail (fāl)

intransitive verb

  1. to be lacking or insufficient; fall short the water supply is failing
  2. to lose power or strength; weaken; die away
  3. to stop operating or working the brakes failed
  4. to be deficient or negligent in an obligation, duty, or expectation; default
  5. to be unsuccessful in obtaining a desired end; be unable to do or become; miss
  6. to become bankrupt
  7. Educ. to get a grade of failure; not pass

Etymology: ME failen < OFr faillir, to fail, miss < L fallere, to deceive, disappoint < IE base *ĝhwel-, to bend, deviate > Sans hválati, (he) loses the way, errs, Gr phēloein, to deceive

transitive verb

  1. to be useless or not helpful to; be inadequate for; disappoint
  2. to leave; abandon his courage failed him
  3. to miss, neglect, or omit: used with an infinitive he failed to go
  4. Educ.
    1. to give a grade of failure to (a pupil)
    2. to get a grade of failure in (a subject)

noun

failure: now only in the phrase without fail, without failing (to occur, do something, etc.)

Etymology: ME faile < OFr faile < the v.

fail Idioms

fail of

to fail to achieve; be without

fail Synonyms

fail

v.

  1. To be unsuccessful

    miscarry, fall short, miss, slip, lose, make nothing of, come to naught, come to nothing, falter, flounder, blunder, break down, break, run aground, founder, misfire, come to grief, get into trouble, lose ground, abort, neglect, backslide, not pass, be demoted, lose status, come down, fall flat, fall through, go amiss, go astray, fall down, get left, be found lacking, be found wanting, be deficient, be inadequate, go down, go under, lose one's labor, hit a slump, miss an opportunity, not measure up, not measure up to expectation, not pass muster, lose out, give out, not have it in one, be all over with, come short of, break one's word, not make the grade, not make it, miss the mark, lose control, fall from one's high estate, go wrong, flop*, bomb*, flunk*, fall down on the job*, miss the boat*, bite the dust*, blow the chance*, fizzle out*, go belly up*, hit rock bottom*, crap out*, go down the tubes*, go down swinging*, end in smoke*, go up in smoke*, not get to first base*, touch bottom*, lay an egg*, draw a blank*, not come off*, come a cropper*, not cut the mustard*, conk out*, peter out*, flunk out*, strike out*, wash out*, fold up*, go on the rocks*, die on the vine*, go over like a lead balloon*.

    Antonyms succeed, win*, triumph. *

  2. To disappoint

    let down, desert, leave, displease; see abandon 2, disappoint.

  3. To grow less

    decline, lessen, worsen, sink; see decay.

  4. To become insolvent

    go bankrupt, default, be in arrears, overdraw, go out of business, go into receivership, go under, default on payment, dishonor, repudiate, be ruined, collapse, go broke*, fold*, go to the wall*, throw in the sponge*, be unable to make ends meet*, drown in red ink*, crash*, go belly up*, go down the tubes*, lose one's shirt*, go on the rocks*, bust*. *

    Antonyms prosper*, gain*, thrive. *

  5. To dismiss for failure

    send home, dismiss, suspend, put on probation, flunk*, send down*.

without fail

certainly, constantly, dependably, reliably; see regularly 1, 2, surely, yes.

fail Law Definition

v

To break; not to succeed in reaching a standard or goal; to perform ineptly or faultily; to become bankrupt.

fail Usage Examples

Object

  • seeker: Failed asylum seekers who refuse to accept paid-for voluntary flights risk the loss of benefits and the removal of their children into care.
  • eyesight: The Diocese now recommends using a typeface and size that are easy to read for those with failing eyesight.
  • attempt: Many of them died in that failed attempt to save those trapped at the top.
  • exam: I've failed an exam - so I guess God doesn't love me.
  • test: DC Kneath Swansea Oliver Owen was correct to point out that no East German swimmer ever failed a drug test.
  • examination: If you fail an examination at the first sitting you will be allowed one further attempt.

Preposition: on

  • ground: The appeal, therefore, failed on this ground.
  • occasion: The ploy, however, failed on this occasion, for the French had too much to lose.

Adjective complement

due: Many projects fail due to organizations ' inability to administer the wide range of funds available.

Modifying Another Word

  • miserably: Robert Says: June 15th, 2006 at 12:20 pm Better to fail miserably than to fail brilliantly!
  • utterly: I've utterly failed to learn much of the language.
  • else: If all else fails then you can think about taking the firm to court.

Used with why or when

which: Alternatively they can complete v1 by 30 June 2008 - failing which they must register for v2.

Infinitive complement

  • comply: Failing to comply with the new rules can result in a £ 5,000 fine.
  • respond: Council reprimanded Sargent for failing to respond to their request for information within a reasonable time.
  • meet: See the box between regions fails to meet us.
  • recognize: It claims that the document fails to recognize the role farmers play in shaping the landscape.
  • deliver: Without these skills, projects routinely fail to deliver their planned benefits, or deliver late or over budget.
  • reach: Items failing to reach a minimum standard should not be allowed to be sold.

Preposition: for

reason: If your Otter Box fails for any reason, just return the box and we will gladly replace it.

Browse dictionary entries near fail

  1. ‹ faience
  2. ‹ Fahrenheit
  3. ‹ Fahd
  4. ‹ fagoting
  5. ‹ fagot
  6. ‹ Fagin
  7. ‹ faggot
  8. ‹ fag hag
  9. ‹ fag end
  10. ‹ fag
  1. fail-safe ›
  2. failing ›
  3. faille ›
  4. failure ›
  5. failure of consideration ›
  6. failure of issue ›
  7. fain ›
  8. fainéant ›
  9. faint ›
  10. faint pleader ›