f
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fail
'fail' - used as a verb
1. fail to do something; leave something undone
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
2. be unsuccessful
Where do today's public schools fail?
The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably
3. disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake
His sense of smell failed him this time
His strength finally failed him
His children failed him in the crisis
4. stop operating or functioning
The engine failed on the way to town
5. be unable
I fail to understand your motives
6. judge unacceptable
The teacher failed six students
7. fail to get a passing grade
She studied hard but failed nevertheless
Did I fail the test?
8. 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
9. become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close
A number of banks failed that year
10. prove insufficient
The water supply for the town failed after a long drought
11. get worse

derived forms
1. Fail / Past
failed
2. Fail / Third Person
fails
3. Fail / Present Participle
failing
Variations of 'fail'
 
Antonym
  • succeed
  • manage
  • pass
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    Who Said that ?
    The awareness of the ambiguity of one's highest achievements (as well as one's deepest failures) is a definite symptom of maturity. - Click here to find out.
    Fact of the day
    Seven asteroids were especially named for the Challenger astronauts who were killed in the 1986 failed launch of the space shuttle.