Definition

Verb: 1. To be unsuccessful; to not achieve a desired or intended outcome. This is the core meaning, describing a situation, plan, or action that does not work as expected or ends in failure. 2. To malfunction; to stop working correctly. This meaning applies to machines, devices, or systems that break down or operate incorrectly.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (be unsuccessful):
  • Their plan to start a business went wrong when they couldn't secure funding.
  • Everything went wrong on the day of the important presentation.
• Verb (malfunction):
  • Something went wrong with the engine, and the car stopped suddenly.
  • If the experiment goes wrong, we will need to start over from the beginning.

Advanced Usage

• "to go horribly/terribly wrong": This intensifier emphasizes a complete and often disastrous failure.
  • The peaceful protest went horribly wrong when fighting broke out.
• "to go wrong with (something)": This structure specifies the thing that is failing or malfunctioning.
  • We need to figure out what went wrong with the communication system.

Variants and Related Words

• Go awry (verb phrase): This is a more formal synonym meaning to go wrong or off course.
  • The project went awry due to poor management.
• Go amiss (verb phrase): Similar to "go wrong," often used in negative constructions or questions.
  • Has anything gone amiss?

Synonyms

• Fail: To not succeed.
• Miscarry: (Of a plan) to fail to achieve the intended result.
• Flop: To fail completely, especially in a public or noticeable way.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Go bad: Typically used for food that has spoiled or decayed.
  • The milk went bad because it was left out.*
• Go sour: Can describe plans or relationships that turn bad or become unpleasant.
  • Their business partnership went sour after a financial dispute.

Related Idioms

• To take a wrong turn: Literally to go the wrong way while traveling; figuratively, to make a bad decision that leads to problems.
  • His career took a wrong turn when he joined the controversial company.
• To be on the wrong track: To be following a plan or line of thinking that is incorrect and will not lead to success.
  • If you think money will solve everything, you're on the wrong track.

Verb

1. be unsuccessful
   • Where do today's public schools fail?
   • The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably