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fail
[feyl]
verb (used without object)
to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved.
The experiment failed because of poor planning.
to receive less than the passing grade or mark in an examination, class, or course of study.
He failed in history.
to be or become deficient or lacking; be insufficient or absent; fall short.
Our supplies failed.
to dwindle, pass, or die away.
The flowers failed for lack of rain.
to lose strength or vigor; become weak.
His health failed after the operation.
to become unable to meet or pay debts or business obligations; become insolvent or bankrupt.
(of a building member, structure, machine part, etc.) to break, bend, crush, or be otherwise destroyed or made useless because of an excessive load.
to stop functioning or operating.
The electricity failed during the storm.
Slang.Ìý
to make an embarrassing or humorous mistake, be in a humiliating situation, etc., and be subject to ridicule.
Showed up late to the wedding? You fail!
to be embarrassingly incompetent, stupid, etc..
She fails at life. I just failed at walking and fell on my face.
to be bad or of inferior quality.
The play is terrible—even the music fails.
verb (used with object)
to be unsuccessful in the performance or completion of.
He failed to do his duty.
(of some expected or usual resource) to prove of no use or help to.
His friends failed him. 51³Ô¹Ïs failed her.
to receive less than a passing grade or mark in.
He failed history.
to declare (a person) unsuccessful in a test, course of study, etc.; give less than a passing grade to.
The professor failed him in history.
noun
Slang.Ìý
an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc., that is subject to ridicule and given an exaggerated importance.
Their app update is a massive fail.
the condition or quality resulting from having failed in this way.
His online post is full of fail.
a person who fails in this way.
Stock Exchange.Ìý
a stockbroker's inability to deliver or receive security within the required time after sale or purchase.
such an undelivered security.
Obsolete.Ìýfailure as to performance, occurrence, etc.
interjection
Slang.Ìý
(used to mock an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc., giving it an exaggerated importance).
A tattoo that misspells your name? Fail!
(used to indicate that something is bad or of inferior quality)
adjective
unsuccessful; failed.
a totally fail policy.
Slang.Ìý
of or noting an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc..
the top 100 funniest fail photos on the internet.
embarrassingly incompetent, stupid, etc.
Why am I so fail?
very bad or of inferior quality.
fail
1/ ´Ú±ðɪ±ô /
verb
to be unsuccessful in an attempt (at something or to do something)
(intr) to stop operating or working properly
the steering failed suddenly
to judge or be judged as being below the officially accepted standard required for success in (a course, examination, etc)
(tr) to prove disappointing, undependable, or useless to (someone)
(tr) to neglect or be unable (to do something)
(intr) to prove partly or completely insufficient in quantity, duration, or extent
(intr) to weaken; fade away
(intr) to go bankrupt or become insolvent
noun
a failure to attain the required standard, as in an examination
definitely; with certainty
fail
2/ fel /
noun
a turf; sod
Other 51³Ô¹Ï Forms
- unfailed adjective
51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins
Origin of fail1
51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins
Origin of fail1
Origin of fail2
Idioms and Phrases
without fail, with certainty; positively.
I will visit you tomorrow without fail.
Example Sentences
A former student at the Dreierschützengasse school, Arthur A had failed to complete his studies.
“He always finds a distraction,†Padilla said, “and, when all else fails, he goes back to demonizing and scapegoating immigrants. … He creates a crisis to get us all talking about something else.â€
Padilla, the Trumpian version of the story now goes, got what he deserved: He busted into a press conference uninvited, they say, pushed his way toward the stage and failed to identify himself.
The complaint alleged that Brock didn’t administer sufficient pain medication and failed to properly complete the procedure or follow up with pathology findings.
The next year, the Colonies defendants sued the county for allegedly engaging in “retaliatory, malicious, or politically motivated investigations and prosecutions, including failed criminal action against the various plaintiffs.â€
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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