fails

Verb

fail (third-person singular simple present fails, present participle failing, simple past and past participle failed)

1. (intransitive) To be unsuccessful.
   • Throughout my life, I have always failed.

   Synonyms:

   miscarry, founder, come to nought, come to nothing, crash and burn, fall flat, fall on one's face, go downhill, go down the toilet, go to pot

2. (transitive) 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. (transitive) To neglect.
   • The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors.
4. (intransitive) Of a machine, etc.: to cease to operate correctly.
   • After running five minutes, the engine failed.
5. (transitive) To be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert; to disappoint one's expectations.
   • I've failed my parents many times growing up.
6. (ambitransitive) To receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.
   • I failed English last year.

   Synonyms:

   flunk

See all 22 meanings of fail