HyperDic: fail

English > 11 senses of the word fail:
VERBsocialfail, neglectfail to do something
socialfail, go wrong, miscarrybe unsuccessful
emotionfail, betraydisappoint, prove undependable to
changefail, go bad, give way, die, give out, conk out, go, break, break downstop operating or functioning
socialfailbe unable
socialfailjudge unacceptable
socialfail, flunk, bomb, flush itfail to get a passing grade
socialfailfall short in what is expected
possessionfailbecome bankrupt or insolvent
changefail, run out, give outprove insufficient
changefailget worse
fail > pronunciation
Soundsfey'l
Rhymesail ... Yale: 95 rhymes with eyl...
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 1, social
Meaningfail to do something; leave something undone.
PatternSomebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Examples
  • "She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib"
  • "The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account"
Synonymneglect
Narrowerchokefail to perform adequately due to tension or agitation
default, default onfail to pay up
lose trackFail to keep informed or aware
missfail to attend an event or activity
mufffail to catch, as of a ball
strike outPut out or be put out by a strikeout
Spanishabandonar, dejarse, descuidarse, descuidar, fallar
Catalanabandonar, descuidar, fallar
Nounsfailurean unexpected omission
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 2, social
MeaningBe unsuccessful.
PatternSomething ----s; Somebody ----s; Something is ----ing PP; Somebody ----s PP
Examples
  • "Where do today's public schools fail?"
  • "The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably"
Synonymsgo wrong, miscarry
Narrowerbotch, bodge, bumble, fumble, botch up, muff, blow, flub, screw up, ball up, spoil, muck up, bungle, fluff, bollix, bollix up, bollocks, bollocks up, bobble, mishandle, louse up, foul up, mess up, fuck upmake a mess of, destroy or ruin
fallSuffer defeat, failure, or ruin
fall through, fall flat, founder, flopfail utterly
missfail to reach or get to
overreachfail by aiming too high or trying too hard
shipwreckSuffer failure, as in some enterprise
strike outBe unsuccessful in an endeavor / endeavor
take it on the chinUndergo failure or defeat / defeat
Oppositesucceed, win, come through, bring home the bacon, deliver the goodsattain success or reach a desired goal / goal
Spanishfallar, fracasar, zozobrar
Catalanequivocar-se, fallar, fracassar
Nounsfailurean act that fails
failurean event that does not accomplish its intended purpose
failurea person with a record of failing
failurelack of success
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 3, emotion
Meaningdisappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake.
PatternSomebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody
Examples
  • "His sense of smell failed him this time"
  • "His strength finally failed him"
  • "His children failed him in the crisis"
Synonymbetray
Broaderdisappoint, let downfail to meet the hopes or expectations of
Spanishabandonar, fallar, traicionar
Catalanfallar
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 4, change
Meaningstop operating or functioning.
PatternSomething ----s
ModelThese cars won't fail
Example "The engine failed on the way to town"
Synonymsgo bad, give way, die, give out, conk out, go, break, break down
Narrowerblow out, burn out, blowmelt, break, or become otherwise unusable
crash, go downstop operating
malfunction, misfunctionfail to function or function improperly
misfirefail to fire or detonate
BroaderchangeUndergo a change
Similar tobreakRender inoperable or ineffective
die, decease, perish, go, exit, pass away, expire, pass, kick the bucket, cash in one's chips, buy the farm, conk, give-up the ghost, drop dead, pop off, choke, croak, snuff itPass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain / sustain life
Spanishaveriarse, estropearse, fallar, morir, pararse, perecer, romper
Catalanavariar-se, espatllar-se, fallar, parar-se
Nounsfailureloss of ability to function normally
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 5, social
MeaningBe unable.
PatternSomebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Example"I fail to understand your motives"
Oppositepull off, negociate, bring off, carry off, manageBe successful
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 6, social
Meaningjudge unacceptable.
PatternSomebody ----s somebody
Example"The teacher failed six students"
Broaderevaluate, pass judgment, judgeform a critical opinion of
OppositepassAccept or judge as acceptable
Similar tofail, flunk, bomb, flush itfail to get a passing grade
Spanishsuspender
Nounsfailingfailure to reach a minimum required performance
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 7, social
Meaningfail to get a passing grade.
PatternSomebody ----s; Somebody ----s something
Examples
  • "She studied hard but failed nevertheless"
  • "Did I fail the test?"
Synonymsflunk, bomb, flush it
Oppositepass, make itgo successfully through a test or a selection process
Similar tofailjudge unacceptable
failfall short in what is expected
Spanishcatear, suspender
Catalansuspendre
Nounsfailingfailure to reach a minimum required performance
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 8, social
Meaningfall short in what is expected.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Somebody ----s PP
Examples
  • "She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law"
  • "We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust"
Similar tofail, flunk, bomb, flush itfail to get a passing grade
Spanishfallar, fracasar
Catalanfallar
Nounsfailinga flaw or weak point
failurean event that does not accomplish its intended purpose
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 9, possession
MeaningBecome bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close.
PatternSomething ----s; Somebody ----s
Example "A number of banks failed that year"
Spanishquebrar
Catalanfer fallida
Nounsfailureinability to discharge all your debts as they come due
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 10, change
Meaningprove insufficient.
PatternSomething ----s
Example"The water supply for the town failed after a long drought"
Synonymsrun out, give out
Spanishacabarse, agotarse, fallar
Catalanacabar-se, esgotar-se, fallar
English > fail: 11 senses > verb 11, change
Meaningget worse.
PatternSomething ----s
Broaderworsen, declineGrow worse
Spanishfallar

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