Word Games Pro Dictionary

fail

verb

deteriorate

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
4
Starts with
F
Ends with
L
Contains
AI
Scrabble score
7
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

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Audio Pronunciation

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Meaning

Definitions

verb

  1. deteriorate

    “Her health is declining”

verb

  1. stop operating or functioning

    “The engine finally went”

verb

  1. prove insufficient

    “The water supply for the town failed after a long drought”

verb

  1. disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake

    “His sense of smell failed him this time”

verb

  1. become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close

    “The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor”

verb

  1. fall short in what is expected

    “She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law”

verb

  1. fail to get a passing grade

    “She studied hard but failed nevertheless”

verb

  1. judge unacceptable

    “The teacher failed six students”

verb

  1. be unsuccessful

    “Where do today's public schools fail?”

verb

  1. fail to do something; leave something undone

    “She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib”

verb

  1. be unable

    “I fail to understand your motives”

In context

Example Sentences

Her health is declining
The engine finally went
The car died on the road
The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
The coffee maker broke
The engine failed on the way to town
The water supply for the town failed after a long drought
His sense of smell failed him this time
His strength finally failed him
His children failed him in the crisis
The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor
A number of banks failed that year
She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law
We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust
She studied hard but failed nevertheless
Did I fail the test?
The teacher failed six students
Where do today's public schools fail?
The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably
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
I fail to understand your motives

Similar words

Synonyms

Opposite words

Antonyms

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