fail

[feyl]

verb (used without object)

1. to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved.

   The experiment failed because of poor planning.

2. to receive less than the passing grade or mark in an examination, class, or course of study.

   He failed in history.

3. to be or become deficient or lacking; be insufficient or absent; fall short.

   Our supplies failed.

4. to dwindle, pass, or die away.

   The flowers failed for lack of rain.

5. to lose strength or vigor; become weak.

   His health failed after the operation.

6. to become unable to meet or pay debts or business obligations; become insolvent or bankrupt.

7. (of a building member, structure, machine part, etc.) to break, bend, crush, or be otherwise destroyed or made useless because of an excessive load.

8. to stop functioning or operating.

   The electricity failed during the storm.

9. Slang.

   1. to make an embarrassing or humorous mistake, be in a humiliating situation, etc., and be subject to ridicule.

      Showed up late to the wedding? You fail!

   2. to be embarrassingly incompetent, stupid, etc..

      She fails at life. I just failed at walking and fell on my face.

   3. to be bad or of inferior quality.

      The play is terrible—even the music fails.

verb (used with object)

1. to be unsuccessful in the performance or completion of.

   He failed to do his duty.

2. (of some expected or usual resource) to prove of no use or help to.

   His friends failed him. Words failed her.

3. to receive less than a passing grade or mark in.

   He failed history.

4. to declare (a person) unsuccessful in a test, course of study, etc.; give less than a passing grade to.

   The professor failed him in history.

noun

1. Slang.

   1. an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc., that is subject to ridicule and given an exaggerated importance.

      Their app update is a massive fail.

   2. the condition or quality resulting from having failed in this way.

      His online post is full of fail.

   3. a person who fails in this way.

2. Stock Exchange.

   1. a stockbroker's inability to deliver or receive security within the required time after sale or purchase.

   2. such an undelivered security.

3. Obsolete.,  failure as to performance, occurrence, etc.

interjection

1. Slang.

   1. (used to mock an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc., giving it an exaggerated importance).

      A tattoo that misspells your name? Fail!

   2. (used to indicate that something is bad or of inferior quality)

adjective

1. unsuccessful; failed.

   a totally fail policy.

2. Slang.

   1. of or noting an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc..

      the top 100 funniest fail photos on the internet.

   2. embarrassingly incompetent, stupid, etc.

      Why am I so fail?

   3. very bad or of inferior quality.

fail

¹

/ feɪl /

verb

1. to be unsuccessful in an attempt (at something or to do something)

2. (intr) to stop operating or working properly

   the steering failed suddenly

3. to judge or be judged as being below the officially accepted standard required for success in (a course, examination, etc)

4. (tr) to prove disappointing, undependable, or useless to (someone)

5. (tr) to neglect or be unable (to do something)

6. (intr) to prove partly or completely insufficient in quantity, duration, or extent

7. (intr) to weaken; fade away

8. (intr) to go bankrupt or become insolvent

noun

1. a failure to attain the required standard, as in an examination

2. definitely; with certainty

fail

²

/ fel /

noun

1. a turf; sod

Other Word Forms

• unfailed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fail¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English failen, from Anglo-French, Old French faillir, from unattested Vulgar Latin fallīre, for Latin fallere “to disappoint, deceive”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fail¹

C13: from Old French faillir , ultimately from Latin fallere to disappoint; probably related to Greek phēlos deceitful

Origin of fail²

perhaps from Scottish Gaelic fàl

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. without fail, with certainty; positively.

   I will visit you tomorrow without fail.

see without fail; words fail me.

Example Sentences

One group opposed to devolution, the Abolish the Assembly party, failed to win any seats at the last election.

From BBC

The jury failed to reach verdicts on two other defendants, a man and a boy, and a retrial will be held in 2026.

From BBC

In his report, he said she did seek legal advice when buying the property, but failed to seek further expert tax advice as recommended.

From BBC

The duke was sent to Germany to cool his ardour, but the imposed distance failed to quench the flame.

From BBC

And even in a worst-case scenario where they fail to finish among the top two, Wales are all but guaranteed a play-off place thanks to their Nations League performance.

From BBC

Related Words

• break 
• close 
• drop 
• end 
• finish