Fail definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

fail in American English · 1. to be lacking or insufficient; fall short · 2. to lose power or strength; weaken; die away · 3. to stop operating or working · 4. to ... EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Sentences Video LearnEnglish Videopronunciations Buildyourvocabulary Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Japanese EnglishDictionaryThesaurusSentencesConjugationGrammar Definitionof 'fail'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× fail (feɪl ) Wordforms:plural,3rdpersonsingularpresent tensefails ,presentparticiplefailing ,pasttense,pastparticiplefailed 1. verb Ifyoufailtodosomethingthatyouweretryingtodo,youareunabletodoitordonotsucceedindoingit. TheWorkers'Partyfailedtowinasinglegovernorship.[VERBto-infinitive] Hefailedinhisattempttotakecontrolofthecompany.[VERB+in] Manyofushavetriedtoloseweightandfailedmiserably.[VERB] Thetruthis,I'mafailedcomedywriterreally.[VERB-ed] 2. verb Ifanactivity,attempt,orplanfails,itisnotsuccessful. Wetriedtodevelopplansforthemtogetalong,whichallfailedmiserably.[VERB] Hewasafraidtherevolutiontheyhadstartedwouldfail.[VERB] Scotch-Irishemigrationbeganwiththefailedharvestof1717.[VERB-ed] Synonyms:beunsuccessful,founder,fallflat,cometonothing MoreSynonymsoffail 3. verb Ifsomeoneorsomethingfailstodoaparticularthingthattheyshouldhavedone,theydonotdoit. [formal]Someschoolsfailtosetanyhomework.[VERBto-infinitive] Hefailedtofiletaxreturnsfor1982.[VERBto-infinitive] Thebombfailedtoexplode.[VERBto-infinitive] 4. verb Ifsomethingfails,itstopsworkingproperly,ordoesnotdowhatitissupposedtodo. Thelightsmysteriouslyfailed,andwestumbledaroundincompletedarkness.[VERB] Infactmanyfoodcropsfailedbecauseofthedrought.[VERB] Synonyms:wither,perish,sag,droop MoreSynonymsoffail 5. verb Ifabusiness,organization,orsystemfails,itbecomesunabletocontinueinoperationorinexistence. [business]Sofarthisyear,104bankshavefailed.[VERB] ...afailedhotelbusiness.[VERB-ed] Whowantstobuyacomputerfromafailingcompany?[VERB-ing] Synonyms:gobankrupt,crash,collapse,fold[informal] MoreSynonymsoffail 6. verb Ifsomethingsuchasyourhealthoraphysicalqualityisfailing,itisbecominggraduallyweakerorlesseffective. Hewas58,andhishealthwasfailingrapidly.[VERB] Hereinthehills,thelightfailedmorequickly.[VERB] Anapparentlyfailingmemoryisdamagingforanationalleader.[VERB-ing] Synonyms:giveout,disappear,fade,dim MoreSynonymsoffail 7. verb Ifsomeonefailsyou,theydonotdowhatyouhadexpectedortrustedthemtodo. Wewaitedtwenty-oneyears,don'tfailusnow.[VERBnoun] ...communitieswhofeelthatthepoliticalsystemhasfailedthem.[VERBnoun] Synonyms:disappoint,abandon,desert,neglect MoreSynonymsoffail 8. verb Ifsomeonefailsintheirdutyorfailsintheirresponsibilities,theydonotdoeverythingthattheyhaveadutyoraresponsibilitytodo. Lawyersareaccusedoffailingintheirdutiestoadviseclientsoftheirrights.[VERBinnoun] Ifwedidnotreportwhatwashappeninginthecountry,wewouldbefailinginour duty.[VERB+in] 9. verb Ifaqualityorabilitythatyouhavefailsyou,orifitfails,itisnotgoodenoughinaparticularsituationtoenableyoutodowhatyouwanttodo. Foronce,theartist'sfertileimaginationfailedhim.[VERBnoun] Theircouragefailedafewstepsshortandtheycamerunningback.[VERB] 10. verb Ifsomeonefailsatest,examination,orcourse,theyperformbadlyinitanddonotreachthestandardthatisrequired. Ilivedinfearoffailingmyend-of-termexams.[VERBnoun] Synonyms:notpass,beunsuccessful,flunk[informal],screwup[informal] MoreSynonymsoffail Failisalsoanoun. It'sthedifferencebetweenapassandafail. exam 11. verb Ifsomeonefailsyouinatest,examination,orcourse,theyjudgethatyouhavenotreachedahigh enoughstandardinit. ...thetwomenwhohadfailedhimduringhisfirstyearoflawschool.[VERBnoun] 12. Seeifallelsefails 13. SeeIfailtosee/Ifailtounderstand 14. Seewithoutfail 15. Seewithoutfail MoreSynonymsoffail CollinsCOBUILDAdvancedLearner’sDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof fail Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'fail' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'fail' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'Bodleian' HindiTranslationof'fail' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency failinBritishEnglish1 (feɪl ) verb1. tobeunsuccessfulinanattempt(atsomethingortodosomething) 2. (intransitive) tostopoperatingorworkingproperly thesteeringfailedsuddenly 3. tojudgeorbejudgedasbeingbelowtheofficiallyacceptedstandardrequiredforsuccessin(acourse,examination,etc) 4. (transitive) toprovedisappointing,undependable,oruselessto(someone) 5. (transitive) toneglectorbeunable(todosomething) 6. (intransitive) toprovepartlyorcompletelyinsufficientinquantity,duration,orextent 7. (intransitive) toweaken;fadeaway 8. (intransitive) togobankruptorbecomeinsolvent noun9. afailuretoattaintherequiredstandard,asinanexamination 10. Seewithoutfail CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers WordoriginC13:fromOldFrenchfaillir,ultimatelyfromLatinfalleretodisappoint;probablyrelatedtoGreekphēlosdeceitful WordFrequency failinBritishEnglish2 (fel ) nounScottish aturf;sod CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers WordoriginperhapsfromScottishGaelicfàl WordFrequency failinAmericanEnglish (feɪl ) verbintransitive1.  tobelackingorinsufficient;fallshort thewatersupplyisfailing 2.  tolosepowerorstrength;weaken;dieaway 3.  tostopoperatingorworking thebrakesfailed 4.  tobedeficientornegligentinanobligation,duty,orexpectation;default 5.  tobeunsuccessfulinobtainingadesiredend;beunabletodoorbecome;miss 6.  tobecomebankrupt 7. Education togetagradeoffailure;notpass verbtransitive8.  tobeuselessornothelpfulto;beinadequatefor;disappoint 9.  toleave;abandon hiscouragefailedhim 10.  tomiss,neglect,oromit:usedwithaninfinitive hefailedtogo 11. Educationa.  togiveagradeoffailureto(apupil) b.  togetagradeoffailurein(asubject) noun12.  failurenowonlyinthephrasewithoutfail,withoutfailing(tooccur,dosomething,etc.) Idioms:failof Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. WordoriginMEfailenSanshválati,(he)losestheway,errs,Grphēloein,todeceive WordFrequency failinAmericanEnglish (feil) intransitiveverb1. tofallshortofsuccessorachievementinsomethingexpected,attempted,desired,orapproved Theexperimentfailedbecauseofpoorplanning 2. toreceivelessthanthepassinggradeormarkinanexamination,class,orcourseofstudy Hefailedinhistory 3. tobeorbecomedeficientorlacking;beinsufficientorabsent;fallshort Oursuppliesfailed 4. todwindle,pass,ordieaway Theflowersfailedforlackofrain 5. tolosestrengthorvigor;becomeweak Hishealthfailedaftertheoperation 6. tobecomeunabletomeetorpaydebtsorbusinessobligations;becomeinsolventorbankrupt 7. (ofabuildingmember,structure,machinepart,etc.) tobreak,bend,crush,orbeotherwisedestroyedormadeuselessbecauseofanexcessiveload 8. tostopfunctioningoroperating Theelectricityfailedduringthestorm transitiveverb9. tobeunsuccessfulintheperformanceorcompletionof Hefailedtodohisduty 10. (ofsomeexpectedorusualresource) toproveofnouseorhelpto Hisfriendsfailedhim Wordsfailedher 11. toreceivelessthanapassinggradeormarkin Hefailedhistory 12. todeclare(aperson)unsuccessfulinatest,courseofstudy,etc.;givelessthanapassing gradeto Theprofessorfailedhiminhistory noun13. StockExchangea. astockbroker'sinabilitytodeliverorreceivesecuritywithintherequiredtimeaftersaleorpurchase b. suchanundeliveredsecurity 14. obsolete failureastoperformance,occurrence,etc. 15. Seewithoutfail Mostmaterial©2005,1997,1991byPenguinRandomHouseLLC.Modifiedentries©2019 byPenguinRandomHouseLLCandHarperCollinsPublishersLtd Wordorigin[1175–1225;MEfailen‹AF,OFfaillir‹VL*fallīre,forLfalleretodisappoint,deceive] Examplesof'fail'inasentence fail TheseexampleshavebeenautomaticallyselectedandmaycontainsensitivecontentthatdoesnotreflecttheopinionsorpoliciesofCollins,oritsparentcompanyHarperCollins. Wewelcomefeedback:reportanexamplesentencetotheCollinsteam.Readmore… Thesedutieswecanperform–butfailtodoso.TheGuardian(2016)Guaidómustnotbeallowedtofail.TheGuardian(2019)Thegovernmentfailedtofixtheroofwhilethesunwasshining.TheGuardian(2019)Butshefailedtodeliveronsomeofherkeypledges.TheGuardian(2020)Ithasbeenyearssincethisannouncementandhehasstillfailedtodeliver.TheGuardian(2020)Councilshaveappliedbuteitherwithdrewtheirapplicationsorfailedtowinapproval.Times,SundayTimes(2016)Whenhislastbusinessfailedhebecamebankrupt.TheSun(2012)Youarenottakenseriouslyunlessyouhavetriedsomethingandfailed.Times,SundayTimes(2014)Mostemployeesgetabitmiffedwhenthecompanychairmanfailstomentionthempersonallyinhisaccountofarecordthirdquarter.Times,SundayTimes(2016)Itmakesmelaughifforeignplayersfailtomakeaninstantimpactandthemanagerwhosignedhimgetsitintheneck.TheSun(2006) COBUILDCollocations fail  failatest failaninspection failmiserably failrepeatedly failspectacularly failutterly failingbusiness failinghealth failingmemory missionfails negotiationsfail venturefails Showmore... Trendsof fail Viewusagefor: AllYears Last10years Last50years Last100years Last300years Inotherlanguages fail BritishEnglish:fail /feɪl/VERBIfyoufailorfailtodosomethingthatyouweretryingtodo,youdonotsucceedindoingit.Hefailedtowinenoughvotes.AmericanEnglish:fail /ˈfeɪl/Arabic:يَفْشَلُ BrazilianPortuguese:falhar Chinese:失败 Croatian:neuspjeti Czech:neuspět Danish:slåfejl Dutch:falen EuropeanSpanish:no+infinitivo Finnish:epäonnistua French:échouer German:scheitern Greek:αποτυγχάνω Italian:fallire Japanese:失敗する Korean:실패하다 Norwegian:mislykkes Polish:zawieść EuropeanPortuguese:falhar Romanian:aeșuaRussian:потерпетьнеудачу LatinAmericanSpanish:fracasar Swedish:misslyckas Thai:ล้มเหลว Turkish:başarısızolmak Ukrainian:зазнаватиневдачіVietnamese:thấtbại Translateyourtextforfree Browsealphabetically fail Faidherbe faience faik fail failatest failanexam failaninspection AllENGLISHwordsthatbeginwith'F' Relatedtermsof fail failof epicfail fail-safe fail-soft pass-fail Viewmorerelatedwords Source DefinitionoffailfromtheCollinsEnglishDictionary ReadabouttheteamofauthorsbehindCollinsDictionaries. NewfromCollins QuickwordchallengeQuizReviewQuestion:1 - Score:0/5 yoke or yolk?Whichversioniscorrect?Theoxenwereharnessedtogetherbyayoke.Theoxenwereharnessedtogetherbyayolk.broach or brooch?Dragthecorrectanswerintothebox. broach broochItwasdifficultto thesubjectwithhim.hole or whole?Whichversioniscorrect?Theholeofmybodywasinpain.Thewholeofmybodywasinpain.blew or blue?Dragthecorrectanswerintothebox. blue blewShefixedherpale eyesonherfather's.rang or rung?Dragthecorrectanswerintothebox. rang rungHe meatmymother's. Yourscore:CheckSeetheanswerNextNextquizReview Oct05,2022 Wordoftheday Bodleian theprincipallibraryofOxfordUniversity:acopyrightdepositlibrary SEEFULLDEFINITION SEEPREVIOUSWORDS Signupforournewsletter Getthelatestnewsandgainaccesstoexclusiveupdatesandoffers Signmeup LatestWordSubmissions anosognosia Oct03,2022 Integritous Sep30,2022 lecanemab Sep28,2022 Trussonomics Sep28,2022 ViewMoreSubmit EuropeanDayofLanguages Monday26SeptembermarksTheEuropeanDayofLanguageswithaimstoencouragelanguagelearning,multilingualismandculturaldiversity. Readmore What’sthedifferencebetweenillnessanddisease? Thisweekwearelookingattwowordswhicharesometimesconfused:illnessanddisease.ImproveyourEnglishwithCollins. Readmore What’sthedifferencebetweencloakroomandcheckroom? Thisweekwearelookingattwowordswhicharesometimesconfused:cloakroomandcheckroom.ImproveyourEnglishwithCollins. Readmore CollinsEnglishDictionaryApps DownloadourEnglishDictionaryapps-availableforbothiOSandAndroid. Readmore CollinsDictionariesforSchools Ournewonlinedictionariesforschoolsprovideasafeandappropriateenvironmentforchildren.Andbestofallit'sadfree,sosignupnowandstartusingathomeorintheclassroom. Readmore Wordlists Wehavealmost200listsofwordsfromtopicsasvariedastypesofbutterflies,jackets,currencies,vegetablesandknots! Amazeyourfriendswithyournew-foundknowledge! Readmore Scrabblescorefor'fail':7 WordleHelper StuckatWordle?Tryourhelpertomaintainyourcurrentstreak! QuickwordchallengeQuizReviewQuestion:1 - Score:0/5 facethedanger or spelldanger?Whichversioniscorrect?Therearealsogoodreasonstofacethedangerandgoahead.Therearealsogoodreasonstospelldangerandgoahead.criminalactivity or economicactivity?Dragthecorrectanswerintothebox. economicactivity criminalactivityOverall isweakanditisexpectedtoremainweakinthenearterm.fantasticatmosphere or poisonousatmosphere?Whichversioniscorrect?Hedeniesthefantasticatmosphereattheclubisgettingtohisplayers.Hedeniesthepoisonousatmosphereattheclubisgettingtohisplayers.fieldquestions or raisequestions?Whichversioniscorrect?Theproposalsalsofieldquestionsaboutwhenworkersshouldretire.Theproposalsalsoraisequestionsaboutwhenworkersshouldretire.environmentaldamage or nervedamage?Whichversioniscorrect?Rescueworkersweretryingtolimitanyenvironmentaldamage.Rescueworkersweretryingtolimitanynervedamage.Yourscore:CheckSeetheanswerNextNextquizReview Autumntraditionsandtheirlexicon Wediscussautumn,asthecolourfulfallenorfallingleavesandtheshorteningdaysremindusthatitiswellandtrulyhere. September27,2022 Readmore CreateanaccountandsignintoaccessthisFREEcontent Registernoworlogintoaccess LANGUAGE English EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Sentences Video LearnEnglish Videopronunciations Buildyourvocabulary Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists French EnglishtoFrench FrenchtoEnglish Grammar PronunciationGuide Conjugations Sentences Video Buildyourvocabulary Quiz German EnglishtoGerman GermantoEnglish Grammar Conjugations Sentences Video Buildyourvocabulary Quiz Italian EnglishtoItalian ItaliantoEnglish Grammar Conjugations Sentences Video Buildyourvocabulary Quiz Spanish EnglishtoSpanish SpanishtoEnglish Grammar PronunciationGuide Conjugations Sentences Video Buildyourvocabulary Quiz Portuguese EnglishtoPortuguese PortuguesetoEnglish Grammar Conjugations Video Buildyourvocabulary Hindi EnglishtoHindi HinditoEnglish Video Buildyourvocabulary Chinese EnglishtoSimplified SimplifiedtoEnglish EnglishtoTraditional TraditionaltoEnglish Quiz Video Buildyourvocabulary Korean EnglishtoKorean KoreantoEnglish Video Buildyourvocabulary Japanese EnglishtoJapanese JapanesetoEnglish Video Buildyourvocabulary TRANSLATOR GAMES Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists Frenchgrammar Germangrammar Italiangrammar MandarinChinesecharacters Spanishgrammar Scrabble ScrabbleHome WordFinder Help Tools Scrabbleblog WordleHelper SCHOOLS HomeSchool PrimarySchool SecondarySchool BLOG RESOURCES Resources CollinsWordoftheDay PaulNobleMethod WordoftheYear CollinsAPI Learner'sDictionary:fail Videopronunciationoffail CollinsEnglishDictionary:fail CollinsEnglishDictionary:fail AmericanEnglishDictionary(1):fail AmericanEnglishDictionary(2):fail Examplesentencesforfail Collocationscontainingfail Wordusagetrends Translationsoffail