fail

FAYL/feɪl/

17 meanings of fail

1
be unsuccessfulverbintransitive
To try to do something but not succeed.
Like trying to jump over a wall but landing on the wrong side.
If you don't practice, you might fail.
I tried to open the jar, but I failed.
UsageSay fail in something: they failed in their plan.
Similarfounder, fold, flop, collapse, miscarry
Oppositesucceed, thrive, prosper, triumph
2
not carry outverbtransitive
To not do something you intended, were expected to do, or should have done.
He failed to finish his homework on time.
Drivers who fail to signal can cause accidents.
UsageSay fail to do something: he failed to finish.
Similarneglect, omit
Oppositemanage, succeed
Note
3
go wrong (machine)verbintransitive
To stop working the right way, as a machine or part does.
Like a flashlight that suddenly goes dark when the battery dies.
The engine failed halfway up the mountain.
Old hard drives sometimes fail without warning.
Similarmalfunction, break, die
Oppositework, function, operate
4
be no helpverbtransitive
To let someone down by not giving the help they needed.
Like a bridge that gives way just when you need to cross it.
Her courage failed her just before the speech.
I won't fail you when it matters most.
UsageSay his memory failed him.
Similardesert, disappoint, abandon, betray, forsake
Oppositesupport
Note
5
go bankruptverbintransitive
To run out of money and be unable to pay what you owe.
Like a shop that has to close because no money is coming in.
Many banks failed when people rushed to take out their money.
If the harvest is poor, more farms will fail this year.
Similarcollapse, fold, founder, crash
Oppositethrive, prosper, flourish
6
adjectiveslangUS
Very bad or not good enough.
That excuse was so fail nobody believed it.
His attempt at a joke was pretty fail.
UsageSay so fail with friends. In school writing, say unsuccessful.
Similarlame, inadequate, bad, awful, pathetic
Oppositegreat, awesome
7
grow weakverb
To become weaker or smaller, or to stop being enough, like failing eyesight or a failed harvest.
Like a fire that slowly dies down until only ashes are left.
As the embers failed, the room grew cold.
When earnestly they seek / Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail.
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, fail means to grow weaker or fall short.
UsageSay his health began to fail.
Note

Less common meanings

8
not pass (exam)verbtransitive or intransitive
To get a grade too low to pass in school or college.
He failed the math test last week.
Study hard so you don't fail.
UsageSay fail a test or fail math.
Similarflunk
Oppositepass
9
give an Fverbtransitive
To give a student a grade too low to pass.
The teacher failed three students for cheating.
Professors can fail anyone who skips the final exam.
Similarflunk
Oppositepass
10
flopnounslangUScountable or uncountable
Slang: something that goes badly wrong or is very poor.
Like a balloon that pops before the party even starts.
The new app launch was a total fail.
Forgetting the cake at his own party was an epic fail.
UsageSay an epic fail with friends. In careful writing, say failure.
Similarfailure, flop, fiasco, disaster, dud
Oppositesuccess, win, triumph, hit
11
no-pass marknouncountable or uncountable
A grade that means you did not pass a test or class.
He got a fail on his final exam.
A single fail can lower your whole average.
UsageSay get a fail on a test.
Oppositepass
12
trade not completednouncountable or uncountable
A breakdown of a deal or payment that does not go through.
The trade ended in a fail when the shares weren't delivered.
A fail in settlement can cost the broker money.
Similarfailure
13
verbobsoletetransitive
To miss getting something, or to lose it.
though that seat of earthly bliss be failed
1671, John Milton, “The Fourth Book”Here, failed means missed out on or lost.
Note
14
verbarchaic
To not have enough of something, falling short of what is needed.
If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not to be attributed to their size.
1757, Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and BeautifulHere, fail of means to lack or fall short of something.
Note
15
verbobsolete
To make a mistake in what you think or decide.
Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps / Shall grieve him, if I fail not.
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, fail means to be wrong or mistaken.
Note
16
verbobsolete
To die, or to come to the end of one's life.
had the king in his last sickness failed
1613, William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher]Here, failed means died.
Note
17
noun
A flat piece of grass and soil cut from the ground.

Practice

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Origin

It came from Old French falir, from Latin fallere, meaning 'to deceive or disappoint.'

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Fail came from Old French falir. en.wiktionary.org
Old French falir ultimately derives from Latin fallere. en.wiktionary.org
Latin fallere means 'to deceive or disappoint'. en.wiktionary.org