- fail
- I UK [feɪl] / US
verb
Word forms "fail":
present tense I/you/we/they fail he/she/it fails present participle failing past tense failed past participle failed
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1)a) [intransitive] to be unsuccessful when you try to do somethingfail to do something:Most people who try to lose weight fail dismally.
fail in:They have failed to come up with any practical solutions.
He failed in his attempt to get compensation.
b) used about actions or plansAttempts to revive him failed.
It looks as if the negotiations are going to fail.
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Collocations:
Adverbs frequently used with fail
▪ abysmally, completely, dismally, miserably, narrowly Nouns frequently used as subjects of fail
▪ attempt, bid, mission, plan2)a) [intransitive] to not do something that people expect you to dofail in your duty/obligation:He failed to come home at the usual time.
The government is failing in its duty to protect people.
b) [transitive] if someone fails you, they do not do what they promised or what you trusted them to doHe felt he had failed his team-mates.
The political system has failed us.
3)a) [intransitive/transitive] to be unsuccessful in achieving a satisfactory level or standardThe new plane failed a safety test.
fail on:She failed all her exams.
I failed on the written part of my driving test.
b) [transitive] to decide that someone or something has not achieved a satisfactory score or standardExaminers failed nearly 30% of the candidates.
4) [intransitive] if something such as a machine or an organ in your body fails, it no longer works correctlyThe brakes failed and the van crashed into a tree.
a) if someone's health is failing, they are becoming weak and less able to do thingsb) if something such as a business or a relationship fails, it has a lot of problems and can no longer continueIf interest rates go up, more small businesses will fail.
c) if crops fail, they do not finish growing and cannot be used for foodd) if the rains fail, it does not rain during the usual season or time of the year5) [transitive] mainly literary if a quality or ability fails you, you suddenly lose itAt the last minute, her courage failed her.
•I fail to see/understand
— spoken formal used for saying in an annoyed way that you do not understand somethingI fail to see why anybody would marry a man like that.
II UK [feɪl] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "fail":
singular fail plural fails Britisha result in a test that shows someone or something has not achieved a satisfactory score or standardIs 45% a pass or a fail?
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English dictionary. 2014.