/ feɪl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
NOT SUCCEED
1.
fail (in sth) to not be successful in achieving sth :
[ v ]
I failed in my attempt to persuade her.
Many diets fail because they are boring.
a failing school
[ v to inf ]
She failed to get into art college.
The song can't fail to be a hit (= definitely will be a hit) .
NOT DO STH
2.
to not do sth :
[ v to inf ]
He failed to keep the appointment.
She never fails to email every week.
I fail to see (= I don't understand) why you won't even give it a try.
[ v ]
He felt he would be failing in his duty if he did not report it.
TEST / EXAM
3.
to not pass a test or an exam; to decide that sb/sth has not passed a test or an exam :
[ vn ]
He failed his driving test.
The examiners failed over half the candidates.
She was disqualified after failing a drugs test.
[ v ]
What will you do if you fail?
OPP pass
OF MACHINES / PARTS OF BODY
4.
[ v ] to stop working :
The brakes on my bike failed half way down the hill.
OF HEALTH / SIGHT
5.
[ v ] (especially in the progressive tenses) to become weak :
Her eyesight is failing.
His last months in office were marred by failing health.
DISAPPOINT SB
6.
[ vn ] to disappoint sb; to be unable to help when needed :
When he lost his job, he felt he had failed his family.
She tried to be brave, but her courage failed her.
( figurative )
Words fail me (= I cannot express how I feel) .
NOT BE ENOUGH
7.
[ v ] to not be enough when needed or expected :
The crops failed again last summer.
The rains had failed and the rivers were dry.
OF COMPANY / BUSINESS
8.
[ v ] to be unable to continue :
Several banks failed during the recession.
•
IDIOMS
- if all else fails
■ noun
the result of an exam in which a person is not successful :
I got three passes and one fail.
OPP pass
•
IDIOMS
- without fail
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French faillir (verb), faille (noun), based on Latin fallere deceive.