Fail meaning

What does “fail” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“fail” is a verb with 11 meanings. Its most common meaning is: fail to do something; leave something undone.

fail

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”
Synonymsneglect
be unsuccessful
“Where do today's public schools fail?”
“The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably”
Synonymsgo wrong miscarry
Oppositessucceed
disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake
“His sense of smell failed him this time”
“His strength finally failed him”
Synonymsbetray
stop operating or functioning
“The engine finally went”
“The car died on the road”
Synonymsgo bad give way die give out conk out go break break down
be unable
“I fail to understand your motives”
Oppositesmanage
judge unacceptable
“The teacher failed six students”
Oppositespass
fail to get a passing grade
“She studied hard but failed nevertheless”
“Did I fail the test?”
Synonymsflunk bomb flush it
Oppositespass
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”
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”
prove insufficient
“The water supply for the town failed after a long drought”
Synonymsrun out give out
get worse
“Her health is declining”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University