(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ to do something that you were trying to do, you are unable to do it or do not succeed in doing it.
The Workers’ Party ~ed to win a single governorship...
He ~ed in his attempt to take control of the company...
Many of us have tried to lose weight and ~ed miserably...
The truth is, I’m a ~ed comedy writer really.
? succeed
VERB: V to-inf, V in n, V, V-ed
2.
If an activity, attempt, or plan ~s, it is not successful.
We tried to develop plans for them to get along, which all ~ed miserably...
He was afraid the revolution they had started would ~...
After a ~ed military offensive, all government troops and police were withdrawn from the island.
? succeed
VERB: V, V, V-ed
3.
If someone or something ~s to do a particular thing that they should have done, they do not do it. (FORMAL)
Some schools ~ to set any homework...
The bomb ~ed to explode.
VERB: V to-inf, V to-inf
4.
If something ~s, it stops working properly, or does not do what it is supposed to do.
The lights mysteriously ~ed, and we stumbled around in complete darkness...
In fact many food crops ~ed because of the drought.
VERB: V, V
5.
If a business, organization, or system ~s, it becomes unable to continue in operation or in existence. (BUSINESS)
So far this year, 104 banks have ~ed.
...a ~ed hotel business...
Who wants to buy a computer from a ~ing company?
VERB: V, V-ed, V-ing
6.
If something such as your health or a physical quality is ~ing, it is becoming gradually weaker or less effective.
He was 58, and his health was ~ing rapidly...
An apparently ~ing memory is damaging for a national leader.
VERB: V, V-ing
7.
If someone ~s you, they do not do what you had expected or trusted them to do.
...communities who feel that the political system has ~ed them.
VERB: V n
8.
If someone ~s in their duty or ~s in their responsibilities, they do not do everything that they have a duty or a responsibility to do.
If we did not report what was happening in the country, we would be ~ing in our duty.
VERB: V in n
9.
If a quality or ability that you have ~s you, or if it ~s, it is not good enough in a particular situation to enable you to do what you want to do.
For once, the artist’s fertile imagination ~ed him...
Their courage ~ed a few steps short and they came running back.
VERB: V n, V
10.
If someone ~s a test, examination, or course, they perform badly in it and do not reach the standard that is required.
I lived in fear of ~ing my end-of-term exams.
? pass
VERB: V n
•
Fail is also a noun.
It’s the difference between a pass and a ~.
N-COUNT
11.
If someone ~s you in a test, examination, or course, they judge that you have not reached a high enough standard in it.
...the two men who had ~ed him during his first year of law school.
? pass
VERB: V n
12.
You say if all else ~s to suggest what could be done in a certain situation if all the other things you have tried are unsuccessful.
If all else ~s, I could always drive a truck.
PHRASE: PHR with cl
13.
You use without ~ to emphasize that something always happens.
He attended every meeting without ~.
PHRASE: PHR with cl emphasis
14.
You use without ~ to emphasize an order or a promise.
On the 30th you must without ~ hand in some money for Alex...
PHRASE: PHR with cl emphasis