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fail

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verb

/feɪl/

present tense
I/you/we/they	fail
he/she/it	fails
present participle	failing
past tense	failed
past participle	failed

Other entries for this word

Related dictionary definitions

1
[intransitive] to be unsuccessful when you try to do something
Most people who try to lose weight fail dismally.
fail to do something:
They have failed to come up with any practical solutions.
fail in:
He failed in his attempt to get compensation.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
1. a.
  used about actions or plans
  Attempts to revive him failed.
  It looks as if the negotiations are going to fail.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
Collocations: fail
Collocations
fail1
▪ abysmally, completely, dismally, miserably, narrowly
fail1
▪ attempt, bid, mission, plan
2
[intransitive] to not do something that people expect you to do
He failed to come home at the usual time.
fail in your duty/obligation:
The government is failing in its duty to protect people.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
1. a.
  [transitive] if someone fails you, they do not do what they promised or what you trusted them to do
  He felt he had failed his team-mates.
  The political system has failed us.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
3
[intransitive/transitive] to be unsuccessful in achieving a satisfactory level or standard
The new plane failed a safety test.
She failed all her exams.
fail on:
I failed on the written part of my driving test.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
1. a.
  [transitive] to decide that someone or something has not achieved a satisfactory score or standard
  Examiners failed nearly 30% of the candidates.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
4
[intransitive] if something such as a machine or an organ in your body fails, it no longer works correctly
The brakes failed and the van crashed into a tree.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
1. a.
  if someone's health is failing, they are becoming weak and less able to do things
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
2. b.
  if something such as a business or a relationship fails, it has a lot of problems and can no longer continue
  If interest rates go up, more small businesses will fail.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
3. c.
  if crops fail, they do not finish growing and cannot be used for food
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
4. d.
  if the rains fail, it does not rain during the usual season or time of the year
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
5
[transitive] mainly literary if a quality or ability fails you, you suddenly lose it
At the last minute, her courage failed her.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail

phrases

I fail to see/understand
spoken formal
used for saying in an annoyed way that you do not understand something
I fail to see why anybody would marry a man like that.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
if all else fails
used for saying that, if other methods do not succeed, there is one last thing that you can try to do
If all else fails she can ask her father for money.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail
never fail to do something
used for emphasizing that someone or something always does something that you expect them to do
This recipe never fails to impress people.
You never fail to astonish me!
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of fail

This is the British English definition of fail. View American English definition of fail.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

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