Fail - definition, pronunciation, transcription

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Amer.  |feɪl|  American pronunciation of the word fail
Brit.  |feɪl|  British pronunciation of the word fail

verb

- fail to do something; leave something undone (syn: neglect)
She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib
The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account
- be unsuccessful (syn: miscarry)
Where do today's public schools fail?
The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably
- disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake (syn: betray)
His sense of smell failed him this time
His strength finally failed him
His children failed him in the crisis
- stop operating or functioning (syn: break, break down, conk out, die, give out, go)
The engine failed on the way to town
- be unable
I fail to understand your motives
- judge unacceptable
The teacher failed six students
- fail to get a passing grade (syn: bomb, flunk)
She studied hard but failed nevertheless
Did I fail the test?
- fall short in what is expected
She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law
We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust
- become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close
A number of banks failed that year
- prove insufficient (syn: give out, run out)
The water supply for the town failed after a long drought
- get worse

Extra examples

He failed in his first attempt but succeeded in his second attempt.

His first company failed, but his second company succeeded.

He felt that he had failed her when she needed him most.

The government has failed the voters.

I fail words to express my feelings.

Soon would our food and water fail us here.

My project failed.

He failed to keep his word.

If only my memory does not fail me.

Take care not to fail me.

He failed to comprehend the seriousness of the problem.

We shall not fail to send our reply.

Religion seems to be failing when it is merely changing its form.

The music rose again from where it seem'd to fail.

It looks likely that the peace talks will fail.

Word forms

verb
I/you/we/they: fail
he/she/it: fails
present participle: failing
past tense: failed
past participle: failed
noun
singular: fail
plural: fails
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