fail
Third Person
fails
Present Participle
failing
Past Tense
failed
Past Participle
failed
1
to be unsuccessful in accomplishing something
- Despite their best efforts, the plan failed.
- The experiment failed due to unforeseen complications.
- He worked hard, but in the end, he failed.
- The team's strategy failed when they couldn't execute it properly.
- Her proposal failed despite being well-prepared.
Antonyms:
2
to be unsuccessful in an examination or course
transitive
- Despite studying hard, he failed the math test.
- I worked extra hours to avoid failing the important project.
- If you don't attend class regularly, you might fail the course.
- John needs to improve his grades; otherwise, he will fail the semester.
- Mark failed the history exam because he didn't study the material.
Antonyms:
3
to not carry out or fulfill an expected action or responsibility
transitive
- She failed to call her friend as promised, leaving him disappointed.
- He often fails to submit his assignments on time, frustrating his teachers.
- Failing to arrive on time, she missed the beginning of the meeting.
- The manager failed to address the team's concerns, leading to dissatisfaction.
- She promised to help but failed to show up when it mattered most.
Synonyms:
4
to disappoint or abandon someone by not meeting their expectations or providing support
transitive
- She promised to help but failed her team when the pressure mounted.
- The leader vowed never to fail his people, even in the toughest circumstances.
- When the crucial moment arrived, his courage failed him.
- They relied on her, but she failed them by not keeping her word.
- Knowing she had failed her mentor weighed heavily on her conscience.
Synonyms:
5
to stop functioning correctly or completely break down
- The old car failed on the highway, leaving them stranded.
- Her phone failed just when she needed to make an important call.
- The generator failed during the storm, plunging the house into darkness.
- Over time, the bridge’s support beams started to fail, causing safety concerns.
- The elevator failed, trapping the passengers between floors.
6
to be unable to do something or achieve a desired outcome
transitive
- She failed to finish the book in time for the discussion.
- He failed to meet the deadline despite working overtime.
- They failed to understand the instructions, which caused confusion.
- He failed to answer the question correctly during the quiz.
- They failed to secure enough votes and lost the election.
Antonyms:
7
to lose strength or quality over time, becoming less effective or reliable
- Her eyesight began to fail as she grew older.
- Over the years, the bridge’s structural integrity started to fail.
- The device’s performance has been failing steadily due to wear and tear.
- He noticed his strength failing as the illness took its toll.
- Her health started to fail after months of neglecting proper care.
8
to be inadequate or unavailable when needed or expected
- When the wheat crop failed, the village faced a severe food shortage.
- As the water supply failed, residents were forced to ration what little they had.
- When the harvest failed, many families were left struggling to survive.
- Without reliable rainfall, the orchard's yield failed dramatically.
- Crops fail when nutrients in the soil are insufficient for proper growth.
9
to stop operating or trading due to financial bankruptcy
- The company failed after months of declining sales and mounting debts.
- Many small businesses fail within their first year of operation.
- He failed as a merchant when he could no longer cover his operating expenses.
- The startup failed due to poor management and insufficient funding.
- When the restaurant failed, it left the owner in significant debt.
10
to determine that someone has not met the required standard in an examination or test
transitive
- The instructor failed half the class for not meeting the minimum requirements.
- She was devastated when she learned that the panel had failed her on the driving test.
- Despite her best efforts, the examiner failed her due to multiple mistakes.
- The strict grading system failed many candidates in the final round.
- Failing the student for plagiarism was the only ethical choice the professor could make.
Antonyms:
11
to not succeed in reaching a desired objective or goal
- The team failed in their quest for the championship after a narrow defeat.
- She failed in her attempt to climb the mountain due to harsh weather.
- He failed in his pursuit of winning the race after spraining his ankle.
- They failed in their effort to fix the roof due to bad weather conditions.
- She failed in her attempt to convince the board to approve her proposal.