Failed Fail I Extra Examples Feɪl Failing Ultimately

• many diets fail because they are boring.
• ultimately all their efforts failed.
• a policy/plan fails
• i failed in my attempt to persuade her.

fail

Verb Forms

1. to not be successful in achieving something
• OPPOSITE succeed (1)
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/succeed#succeed_sng_1
• Many diets fail because they are boring.
• Ultimately all their efforts failed.
• a policy/plan fails
• I failed in my attempt to persuade her.
• He failed in his bid for the presidency.
• The department failed to meet its sales targets.
• They promised a lot, but utterly failed to deliver.
• The song can't fail to be a hit (= definitely will be a hit).

Extra Examples

• I tried to cheer her up, but failed miserably.
• Economic policy has failed miserably to address these issues.
• Others have tried and failed.
• Can we succeed where others have failed?
• He tries to be a good father, but ultimately fails in his responsibility.
• She failed in her bid to be re-elected.
• She failed to get into art college.
• The film completely fails to convince.
• If the play has some message to get across, it singularly fails to do so.
• That joke never fails.
• She came up with several plans that failed spectacularly before finally achieving success.
• The show didn't just fail, it failed spectacularly.
• The game fails in many respects.
• Opponents say it's a policy doomed to fail.
• She tried to put an all-women crew together, but failed dismally.
• They had tried and they had failed.
2. to not pass a test or an exam; to decide that somebody/something has not passed a test or an exam
• OPPOSITE pass
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/pass_2
• What will you do if you fail?
• He failed his driving test.
• Students who fail the exam can retake it.
• She was disqualified after failing a drugs test.
• The restaurant failed a hygiene inspection.
• The examiners failed over half the candidates.

Extra Examples

• My car failed its MOT.
• Schools that fail their inspection can be taken over.
• I failed all my A levels but I turned out fine.
• She was convinced she'd failed the audition.
• He was rejected for the army after failing the physical.
• If your attendance drops below 80%, you automatically fail the course.
• They can fail you for poor attendance.
• He failed me for not looking in my rear-view mirror often enough.
• If you fail, you have to resit.
• There's no grade: it's just pass or fail.
• Once a student has failed on a few tasks, they lose motivation.
3. to not do something
• People failed to recognize her talent.
• His article fails to mention that he actually supported this change.
• If you fail to comply, you can be fined.
• The government has failed to provide the needed resources.
• Such comments never failed to annoy him.
• I fail to see (= I don't understand) why you won't even give it a try.
• She cannot fail to (= must) be aware of the situation.
• They failed in their duty to protect the public.

Extra Examples

• He failed to keep the appointment.
• The authorities have totally failed to address this problem.
• I fail to understand why this can't be resolved.
• They fail to understand the underlying causes.
• The country failed to comply with UN resolutions.
• He has repeatedly failed to explain his actions.
• He felt he would be failing in his duty if he did not report it.
• Politicians are failing in their responsibility to tackle climate change.
• She failed in her obligation to warn the client.
4. to stop working
• The brakes on my bike failed half way down the hill.
• The air-conditioning system failed on the hottest day of the year.
• Sadly, his kidneys had failed.

Extra Examples

• The plane can still be flown if one engine fails.
• The ship was towed into harbour when its engines failed.
• Many of the plane's systems failed before the crash.
• The PA system failed partway through his speech.
• Telephone systems can fail during a storm.
• What happens if your internet connection fails while you are downloading a file?
• If your power fails, or your broadband connection goes down, you can't make or receive calls.
• If the circuit is broken the entire network could fail.
• An overdose could cause the heart to fail.
5. to become weak
• Her eyesight is failing.
• The light began to fail.
6. to disappoint somebody; to be unable to help when needed
• When he lost his job, he felt he had failed his family.
• She tried to be brave, but her courage failed her.
• Words fail me (= I cannot express how I feel).
7. to not be enough when needed or expected
• The crops failed again last summer.
• The rains had failed and the rivers were dry.
8. to be unable to continue
• Several banks failed during the recession.

Extra Examples

• an enterprise that was doomed to fail from the start
• A high percentage of businesses fail because of the collapse of a major customer.
• Businesses fail because they can't pay their bills.
• More banks failed as people rushed to withdraw their money.
9. used to suggest something that somebody can do if nothing else they have tried is successful
• If all else fails, you can always sell your motorbike.
10. so important to the economy of a country that when it finds itself in financial trouble, the government or central bank must act to save it
• Shouldering the huge costs of rescuing banks that are too big to fail has been left to taxpayers.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French faillir (verb), faille (noun), based on Latin fallere ‘deceive’.