fail definition

1. fail to do something; leave something undone
• examples: She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib
• examples: The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account
2. be unsuccessful
• examples: Where do today's public schools fail?
• examples: The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably
3. disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake
• examples: His sense of smell failed him this time
• examples: His strength finally failed him
• examples: His children failed him in the crisis
4. stop operating or functioning
• examples: The engine finally went
• examples: The car died on the road
• examples: The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
• examples: The coffee maker broke
• examples: The engine failed on the way to town
• examples: her eyesight went after the accident
5. be unable
• examples: I fail to understand your motives
6. judge unacceptable
• examples: The teacher failed six students
7. fail to get a passing grade
• examples: She studied hard but failed nevertheless
• examples: Did I fail the test?
8. fall short in what is expected
• examples: She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law
• examples: We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust
9. become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close
• examples: The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor
• examples: A number of banks failed that year
10. prove insufficient
• examples: The water supply for the town failed after a long drought
11. get worse
• examples: Her health is declining