# failing

Pronunciation: say "FAY-ling" /ˈfeɪ.lɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle and gerund of fail. — present participle and gerund of fail
   - Simple: Present participle and gerund of fail. Use this form for an action happening now or as the name of the action.
   - _The engine is failing under the heavy load._
   - _Failing to plan often leads to wasted effort._

## Noun

2. A weakness or defect, especially a shortcoming in a person's character or behavior.
   - Simple: A weak point or fault in a person or thing.
   - _Impatience was her chief failing as a manager._
   - _The report listed several failings in the safety system._

## Preposition

3. Used before a noun to mean 'in the absence of' or 'if the thing just mentioned is not possible.'
   - Simple: Used to say what will happen if something else is not possible.
   - _Failing agreement at the meeting, the dispute will go to arbitration._
   - _She planned to fly home, or failing that, to drive overnight._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/failing (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).