Word Games Pro Dictionary
fail
deteriorate
Quick reference
Word Facts
Listen
Audio Pronunciation
Audio pronunciation is unavailable for this word.
Meaning
Definitions
verb
deteriorate
“Her health is declining”
verb
stop operating or functioning
“The engine finally went”
verb
prove insufficient
“The water supply for the town failed after a long drought”
verb
disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake
“His sense of smell failed him this time”
verb
become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close
“The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor”
verb
fall short in what is expected
“She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law”
verb
fail to get a passing grade
“She studied hard but failed nevertheless”
verb
judge unacceptable
“The teacher failed six students”
verb
be unsuccessful
“Where do today's public schools fail?”
verb
fail to do something; leave something undone
“She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib”
verb
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
