English to English

fail
(f/eI/l )

noun (n)

  • Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly superseded by failure or failing, except in the phrase without fail.(noun)
    source: webster1913

verb (v)

  • fail to do something; leave something undone(verb.social)
    Example:
    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.
    Synonym:
    neglect
    source: wordnet30
  • be unsuccessful(verb.social)
    Example:
    Where do today's public schools fail?.
    The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably.
    Synonym:
    go wrong, miscarry
    Antonym:
    bring home the bacon, come through, deliver the goods, succeed, win
    source: wordnet30
  • disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake(verb.emotion)
    Example:
    His sense of smell failed him this time.
    His strength finally failed him.
    His children failed him in the crisis.
    Synonym:
    betray
    source: wordnet30
  • stop operating or functioning(verb.change)
    Example:
    The engine failed on the way to town.
    Synonym:
    break, break down, conk out, die, give out, give way, go, go bad
    source: wordnet30
  • be unable(verb.social)
    Example:
    I fail to understand your motives.
    Antonym:
    bring off, carry off, manage, negociate, pull off
    source: wordnet30
  • judge unacceptable(verb.social)
    Example:
    The teacher failed six students.
    Antonym:
    pass
    source: wordnet30
  • fail to get a passing grade(verb.social)
    Example:
    She studied hard but failed nevertheless.
    Did I fail the test?.
    Synonym:
    bomb, flunk, flush it
    Antonym:
    make it, pass
    source: wordnet30
  • fall short in what is expected(verb.social)
    Example:
    She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law.
    We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust.
    source: wordnet30
  • become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close(verb.possession)
    Example:
    A number of banks failed that year.
    source: wordnet30
  • prove insufficient(verb.change)
    Example:
    The water supply for the town failed after a long drought.
    source: wordnet30
  • get worse(verb.change)
    Synonym:
    drop away, drop off, fall away, slip, suffer
    source: wordnet30
  • To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence; to cease to be furnished in the usual or expected manner, or to be altogether cut off from supply; to be lacking; as, streams fail; crops fail.(verb)
    source: webster1913
  • To be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to desert.(verb)
    source: webster1913

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