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Glite Dictionary
🙁 To not help ❌ To not succeed 📉 To not pass ⚠️ To stop working 🏦 To go bankrupt 🧓 To get weaker 🤦 A big mistake
to fail

to fail

∞ 1.0
Not do something you promised or should do
  • verb
  • /feɪl/
translation icon : fallar en
  • But nothing else will matter if we fail to protect the ocean.
  • fail to meet
  • fail to recognize
  • fail to address

And I think American leadership failed to prevent this.

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Examples

  • It's essential that we do not fail to fulfill our promises to the community.

  • Does every generation feel like it's failed the next?

    What Happens Later (2023)

  • And I think American leadership failed to prevent this.

    I've Had It

  • And if you fail at that, it is your fault.

  • Because if we fail, they will not forgive us.

  • The market will discipline those that fail to discipline themselves.

  • Years of international pressure have failed to halt Iran's attempt to build a nuclear program.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Developmental students can easily be overwhelmed and fail to become engaged during that critical period.

    Academic text (2015)

  • All of the state legislators criticized the state government for failing to provide services to their communities.

    Academic text (2017)

  • I have failed you.

    Camp Daze (2005)

Synonyms

to go wrong
vsto fail
495 2.4

To fail or happen in a bad way

focuses on people or duties not being done rather than events turning bad
to disappoint
vsto fail
492 1.0

Fail to do what someone hoped for

refers to not doing expected acts or providing support rather than emotional effect
to neglect
vsto fail
256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

is broader covering any expected act rather than only care
to let down
vsto fail
210 2.9

Make someone feel disappointed by not doing what you promised

focuses on not doing or providing support rather than just causing disappointment
to miss
vsto fail
158 1.3

To be without something needed or expected

includes active omissions like not helping or keeping a pledge rather than only lack
to fall short
vsto fail
64 3.9

Fail to reach the level people expect

covers not doing duties or giving support rather than only low results
to fall through
vsto fail
37 4.1

To fail to happen or be finished as planned

applies to people not doing expected actions as well as plans
to break a promise
vsto fail
16 2.6

To fail to do what you said you would do

covers any expected or required duty rather than only pledged actions

Antonyms

assist
33 1.8

Help given to someone to make a task easier

Idioms

words fail (someone)
7.6

To feel so surprised or moved that you cannot find words to say

to words fail you
7.4

To be unable to say anything because you feel very surprised or moved

Phrasal Verbs

to never fail to
14 2.7

Always make the same thing happen

to fail to impress
2 4.1

Not make people think something is good or special

to never fail to amuse
1 3.5

To always make people laugh

Compounds

fail-safe
  • Specialized
11 5.0

A device or system that makes a machine go to a safe state if it breaks

fail-safe
  • Specialized
3 5.6

Designed to work safely if something goes wrong

How Reliable

support
∞ 1.0
help
∞ 1.0
to fail
∞ 1.0
to neglect
256 3.8
to ignore
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

fail infinitive
failed past
failed past participle
failing present participle
fails third person singular

Etymology

Fail comes from old words like faillir and fallere, meaning 'to be lacking' or 'to miss'. So if you fail to do something that was expected, you are 'missing' what was promised or needed.