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1. Dictionary

   fail

   /feɪl/

   verb

   • 1. be unsuccessful in achieving one's goal: "he failed in his attempt to secure election"
   • ▪ be unsuccessful in (an examination 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): "a player has failed a drugs test"
   • ▪ judge (a candidate in an examination or test) 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 expectations by not doing something: "commuter chaos has again failed to materialize"
   • ▪ used to express a strong belief that something must be the case: "she cannot have failed to be aware of the situation"
   • ▪ 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. cease to work properly; break down: "a lorry 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: "the light began to fail" Similar fadegrow lessgrow dimdimdie awaydwindlewanedisappearvanishpeter outdissolvedeterioratedegeneratedeclinego into declinefadediminishdwindlewaneebbsinkcollapsedecayOpposite improve
   • ▪ (of rain or a crop or supply) be 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) cease trading because of lack of funds: "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 mark which is not high enough to pass an examination or test: "a fail grade"
   • 2. a mistake, failure, or instance of poor performance: informal "their customer service is a massive fail"

   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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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishFAIL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   to not succeed in what you are trying to achieve or are expected to do: She moved to London in the hope of finding work as a model, but failed. This method of growing tomatoes never fails. fail in He failed in his attempt to break the record. [ + to infinitive ] She failed to reach the Wimbledon Final this year.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › failFail Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › fail

   • Cached

   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.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › failFAIL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › fail

   • Cached

   Fail definition: to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved. See examples of FAIL used in a sentence.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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

6. 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.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › fail

   • Cached

   1. to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved: The experiment failed. 2. to receive less than the passing grade or mark in an examination, class, or course of study. 3. to be or become deficient or lacking; fall short. 4. to lose strength or vigor; become weak.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   If someone fails a test, examination, or course, they perform badly in it and do not reach the standard that is required. I lived in fear of failing my end-of-term exams. [VERB noun] Synonyms: not pass, be unsuccessful, flunk [informal], screw up [informal] More Synonyms of fail. Fail is also a noun.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishFAILED | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   not achieving wealth, popularity, or success. unsuccessful He tried for years to get his work published before accepting he was a commercially unsuccessful writer. failed She was a failed singer. frustrated He was a legendary actor, but a frustrated director.

10. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › failfail | meaning of fail in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › fail

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    fail meaning, definition, what is fail: to not succeed in achieving something: Learn more.

11. www.yourdictionary.com › failFail Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › fail

    • Cached

    Fail definition: To prove deficient or lacking; perform ineffectively or inadequately.