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Fail

noun
/feɪl/
Word Frequency: 24.8

Definitions

1.nounPoor quality; substandard workmanship.
"The project was full of fail."
2.nounA failure (condition of being unsuccessful)
3.nounA failure (something incapable of success)
4.nounA failure, especially of a financial transaction (a termination of an action).
5.nounA failing grade in an academic examination.
6.verbTo be unsuccessful.
"Throughout my life, I have always failed."
7.verbNot to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.)
"The truck failed to start."
8.verbTo neglect.
"The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors."
9.verbOf a machine, etc.: to cease to operate correctly.
"After running five minutes, the engine failed."
10.verbTo be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert.
11.verbTo receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.
"I failed English last year."
12.verbTo give a student a non-passing grade in an academic endeavour.
"The professor failed me because I did not complete any of the course assignments."
13.verbTo miss attaining; to lose.
14.verbTo be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence.
"The crops failed last year."
15.verbTo be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; used with of.
16.verbTo fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.
17.verbTo deteriorate in respect to vigour, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker.
"A sick man fails."
18.verbTo perish; to die; used of a person.
19.verbTo err in judgment; to be mistaken.
20.verbTo become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.
21.adjectiveThat is a failure.

Synonyms

fall on one's faceflunkmiscarryneglectgo wrongdiebreak downbetrayconk outbreakgive wayrun out

Antonyms

succeed

Rhymes With

wailgaleavailfrailassailtravailprevailentail
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