Pronunciation

/feɪl/

Definitions

• Verb (v): To be unsuccessful in achieving a desired outcome or intended goal; to not succeed. For example: “Despite his best efforts, he failed the exam.”
• Verb (v): To lack something necessary or desirable; to be insufficient. Example: “The old bridge failed to meet modern safety standards.”
• Verb (v): To cease functioning or to stop working properly. Example: “The engine failed on the way home.”
• Noun (n): An instance of failing or not achieving success. Example: “Her repeated failures in math class made her consider switching majors.”
• Noun (n): The state or condition of being inadequate or insufficient. Example: “There was a failure of communication between the two departments.”

Phrases

• “To fail miserably”: To fail completely or in a very obvious and embarrassing way.
• “Fail-safe”: A mechanism designed to prevent failure or ensure safe operation even if other systems fail.
• “Without fail”: Always; invariably; to be certain to do something.
• “Failure is not an option”: A popular expression suggesting that success is mandatory, often used to emphasize determination.

Example Sentences

• Verb: “If the business doesn’t increase its sales, it will fail within a year.”
• Noun: “His experience with past failures motivated him to work harder on his next project.”

Synonyms

• Misfire
• Flunk
• Fall short
• Come up short
• Lose out
• Miss the mark
• Be unsuccessful
• Break down (in the context of machinery)
• Collapse (in the context of systems)