fail

/feɪl/

noun

  1. 1

    Poor quality; substandard workmanship.

    The project was full of fail.
  2. 2

    A failure (condition of being unsuccessful)

  3. 3

    A failure (something incapable of success)

  4. 4

    A failure, especially of a financial transaction (a termination of an action).

  5. 5

    A failing grade in an academic examination.

verb

  1. 1

    To be unsuccessful.

    Throughout my life, I have always failed.
  2. 2

    Not to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.)

    The truck failed to start.
  3. 3

    To neglect.

    The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors.
  4. 4

    Of a machine, etc.: to cease to operate correctly.

    After running five minutes, the engine failed.
  5. 5

    To be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert.

  6. 6

    To receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.

    I failed English last year.
  7. 7

    To 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.
  8. 8

    To miss attaining; to lose.

  9. 9

    To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence.

    The crops failed last year.
  10. 10

    To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; used with of.

  11. 11

    To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.

  12. 12

    To deteriorate in respect to vigour, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker.

    A sick man fails.
  13. 13

    To perish; to die; used of a person.

  14. 14

    To err in judgment; to be mistaken.

  15. 15

    To 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.

Antonyms

adjective

  1. 1

    That is a failure.

noun

  1. 1

    A piece of turf cut from grassland.

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