fail

/feil/

Friendly

The word "fail" is a verb that means to not succeed in doing something or to not meet expectations. It can describe many situations where something does not work as intended or when a person does not achieve a goal.

Easy Definition:

1. To not succeed: When you try to do something but do not achieve it.
2. To stop working: When a machine or system no longer operates.
3. To disappoint: When someone or something does not meet your expectations.

Usage Instructions:

• "Fail" can be used in various contexts, such as academics, responsibilities, machines, and personal efforts.

Examples:

1. Academic Context: "I studied hard for the test, but I failed to get a passing grade."
2. Machine Context: "The engine failed while we were driving, so we had to call for help."
3. Personal Responsibility: "She failed in her duty to help her friend during tough times."

Advanced Usage:

• "Fail" can also be used in more complex sentences or discussions about expectations and obligations.
• Example: "The government failed to provide adequate support to the victims of the disaster."

Word Variants:

• Failure (noun): The state of not succeeding. Example: "His failure to finish the project on time caused problems."
• Failed (adjective): Something that did not succeed. Example: "The failed attempt at reconciliation left the team divided."

Different Meanings:

1. In a financial context: "The company failed and had to close down."
2. In a personal context: "He felt he had failed as a father when he missed his child's graduation."

Synonyms:

• To not succeed: miss, fall short, flunk
• To stop working: break down, malfunction
• To disappoint: let down, betray

Idioms:

• "Fail to see": This means to not understand or recognize something. Example: "I failed to see the importance of studying until it was too late."
• "Fail in one's duties": To not fulfill responsibilities. Example: "He failed in his duties as a team leader."

Phrasal Verbs:

• "Fail to do something": To not do something that was expected. Example: "She failed to call me back."
• "Fail out": To drop out of a course or school due to poor performance. Example: "He failed out of college after his first year."

Summary:

The word "fail" has a broad range of meanings and uses, from academic failures to machines breaking down.

Academic

Verb

1. get worse
   • Her health is declining
2. prove insufficient
   • The water supply for the town failed after a long drought
3. become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close
   • The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor
   • A number of banks failed that year
4. fall short in what is expected
   • She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law
   • We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust
5. fail to get a passing grade
   • She studied hard but failed nevertheless
   • Did I fail the test?
6. judge unacceptable
   • The teacher failed six students
7. be unable
   • I fail to understand your motives
8. stop operating or functioning
   • The engine finally went
   • The car died on the road
   • The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
   • The coffee maker broke
   • The engine failed on the way to town
   • her eyesight went after the accident
9. disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake
   • His sense of smell failed him this time
   • His strength finally failed him
   • His children failed him in the crisis
10. be unsuccessful
    • Where do today's public schools fail?
    • The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably
11. fail to do something; leave something undone
    • 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

Synonyms

• run out
• give out
• flunk
• bomb
• flush it
• go bad
• give way
• die
• conk out
• go
• break
• break down
• betray
• go wrong
• miscarry
• neglect