Meaning of fail In English

• 0 to not succeed in what you are trying to achieve or are expected to do:

  • She moved to London in the hope of finding work as a model, but failed.

  • This method of growing tomatoes never fails.

  • He failed in his attempt to break the record.

  • [ + to infinitive ] She failed to reach the Wimbledon Final this year.

  • The reluctance of either side to compromise means that the talks are doomed to (= will certainly) fail.

  • If all else fails, we can always stay in and watch TV.

• 1 to be unsuccessful, or to judge that someone has been unsuccessful, in a test or exam:

  • UK I passed in history but failed in chemistry.

  • US I passed history but failed chemistry.

  • A lot of people fail their driving test the first time.

  • She was sure she was going to fail.

  • The examiners failed him because he hadn't answered enough questions.

• 2 to not do something that you should do:

  • [ + to infinitive ] He failed to arrive on time.

  • The staff had been promised a rise, but the money failed to (= did not) materialize.

  • You couldn't fail to be (= it is impossible that you would not be) affected by the movie.

  • I'd be failing in my duty if I didn't tell you about the risks involved in the project.

  • I fail to see why you can't work on a Saturday.

• 3 to become weaker or stop working completely:

  • If my eyesight fails, I'll have to stop doing this job.

  • The brakes failed and the car crashed into a tree.

  • After talking non-stop for two hours, her voice started to fail.

  • The old man was failing fast (= he was dying).

• 4 to not help someone when you are expected to do so:

  • He failed her in her moment of need.

  • When I looked down and saw how far I had to jump, my courage failed me (= I felt very frightened).

• 5 an unsuccessful result in a course, test, or exam:

  • John got three passes and four fails in his exams.

  • My pancakes were an epic fail (= completely unsuccessful).

  • The software crashes every time I open an email. What a fail.

• 6 If you do something without fail, you always do it:

  • I go to the gym every Monday and Wednesday, without fail.

  • Be there at nine o'clock, without fail.

• 7 to not be able to do what you are trying to achieve or are expected to do:

  • [ + to infinitive ] She applied to Harvard University but failed to get accepted.

  • [ + to infinitive ] I fail to see what the problem is (= I don’t think there is a problem).

• 8 to be unsuccessful, or to judge that someone has been unsuccessful in a test or examination:

  • [ I/T ] A lot of people fail (their driving test) the first time.

  • [ T ] She said she would fail any student who misses two exams.

• 9 to not do something that should be done:

  • [ + to infinitive ] He promised to help, but failed to send a check.

  • [ + to infinitive ] She never fails to meet a deadline.

  • [ T ] He failed her when she most needed him.

• 10 to become weaker or stop working completely:

  • The bus driver said the brakes failed.

• 11 to not succeeed in something you are trying to do:

  • fail to do sth They failed to reach an agreement with the board members.

  • fail in sth Last year the company failed in its bid to renew their contract.

  • All their efforts seem to have failed.

  • Some employees will not take risks because they're scared of failing.

• 12 if a business fails, it is unsuccessful and cannot continue to operate:

  • Over 3000 small businesses failed in the first quarter of the year.

  • Is it better for the economy to let unsuccessful companies fail or to bail them out?

• 13 to not pass an exam or test, or not reach a necessary standard:

  • About half of all candidates taking the more advanced exams fail.

  • The company repeatedly failed inspections by Health and Safety officials.

• 14 if a machine or system fails, it stops working:

  • If the system fails for any reason, the emergency back-up will kick in.

• 15 to not do something that you should do:

  • fail to do sth What can be done about clients who fail to pay their debts?