fail

/fˈeɪl/ · 1 syllable

Meaning

verb

fail to do something; leave something undone
“She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib”
be unsuccessful
“Where do today's public schools fail?”
disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake
“His sense of smell failed him this time”
stop operating or functioning
“The engine finally went”
be unable
“I fail to understand your motives”
judge unacceptable
“The teacher failed six students”
fail to get a passing grade
“She studied hard but failed nevertheless”
fall short in what is expected
“She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law”
become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close
“The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor”
prove insufficient
“The water supply for the town failed after a long drought”
get worse
“Her health is declining”

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