verb

fail

fayl

verb

To be unsuccessful in achieving something.

"He failed his driving test twice before passing."

"The negotiations failed to reach an agreement."

To stop working correctly, as of a machine or system.

"The brakes failed on the way down the hill."

To let someone down by not meeting their expectations or needs.

"The system failed the very people it was meant to protect."

noun

Informal: an instance of failure or something that turns out badly.

"Forgetting the tickets was a total fail."

How to Use Fail

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo not succeed at something, or to stop functioning as expected.

Common pairings

fail to fail an exam fail a test engine failed

Word Forms

more fail comparative, failed past tense, fail plural, failed plural, fails plural, fails plural, Fails plural, fails singular, fail singular, failed singular, failest singular, failedst singular, faileth singular, most fail superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

He _____ his driving test twice before passing.

Etymology

From Old French falir, ultimately from Latin fallere, "to deceive or disappoint."

Antonyms

succeed

Related Words

achieve precede prosper succeed

Rhymes for fail

rail tail pail mail nail sail hail jail vail bail wail quail

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