fail

1 of 2

verb

failed; failing; fails

intransitive verb

1
a
: to lose strength : weaken
her health was failing
b
: to fade or die away
until our family line fails
c
: to stop functioning normally
the patient's heart failed
2
a
: to fall short
failed in his duty
b
: to be or become absent or inadequate
the water supply failed
c
: to be unsuccessful
the marriage failed
specifically : to be unsuccessful in achieving a passing grade
took the exam and failed
d
: to become bankrupt or insolvent
banks were failing

transitive verb

1
a
: to disappoint the expectations or trust of
her friends failed her
b
: to miss performing an expected service or function for
his wit failed him
2
: to be deficient in : lack
never failed an invincible courageDouglas MacArthur
3
: to leave undone : neglect
fail to lock the door
4
a
: to be unsuccessful in passing
failed chemistry
b
: to grade (someone, such as a student) as not passing
The teacher failed only his two worst students.
failingly adverb

fail

2 of 2

noun

plural fails
1
: failure
usually used in the phrase without fail
Every day, without fail, he has toast and coffee for breakfast.
see also epic fail
2
: a failure (as by a security dealer) to deliver or receive securities within a prescribed period after purchase or sale

Examples of fail in a Sentence

Verb He failed in his first attempt but succeeded in his second attempt. His first company failed, but his second company succeeded. He felt that he had failed her when she needed him most. The government has failed the voters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
All the remaining works sold; 15 went for prices at or above their high estimate, while 12 sold within estimate and 15 failed to meet their low estimates. Brian Boucher For Artnews, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024 And businesses could also lease the land but fail to utilize it. Li Zhou, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024
Noun
Report Generation With Test Agents Test agents can generate detailed test reports showcasing metrics like pass/fail rates, execution time and defect trends to help teams track progress and identify areas for improvement. Asad Khan, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 But, the major fail comes from not putting down a top coat of epoxy. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fail 

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English failen, from Anglo-French faillir, from Vulgar Latin *fallire, alteration of Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fail was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near fail

Cite this Entry

“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fail. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

fail

1 of 2 verb
1
a
: to lose strength : weaken
failing eyesight
b
: to stop functioning
the engine failed
2
a
: to fall short
failed in their duty
b
: to become absent or lacking
the power failed
c
: to be unsuccessful (as in passing an examination)
d
: to grade as not passing
fail a student
e
: to become bankrupt
3
: disappoint, desert
fail a friend in need
4
: to leave undone : neglect
fail to answer the telephone

fail

2 of 2 noun
: failure sense 1
usually used in the phrase without fail

Medical Definition

fail

intransitive verb
1
: to weaken or lose strength
her health was failing
2
: to stop functioning normally
the patient's heart failed

Legal Definition

fail

intransitive verb
1
: to be or become inadequate or unsuccessful especially in fulfilling certain formal requirements
even if one or more terms are left open, a contract for sale does not fail for indefinitenessUniform Commercial Code
2
: to become bankrupt or insolvent

transitive verb

: to leave undone or neglect to do
fail to appear in court
fail to read a contract

More from Merriam-Webster on fail

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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