to fail

Examples

• All

• Businesses close, crops fail, the town barely survives by hanging on to its one and only draw... the amusement park.

  Shelby Oaks (2025)

• And let the chips fall, let some banks fail, let the markets restructure.

• companies make right before they fail and go out of existence.

• When your company fails, it's your fault.

  GaryVee

• I want to start with why CNN Plus failed so badly.

• The second of Cherokee County's three banks had failed in less than five months.

  Academic text (2013)

• Smart, stylish, and addictive, this page-turner shows how the American Dream has failed many on a personal level.

  Academic text (2015)

• During the economic crisis, many small businesses failed and closed their doors for good.

• Over the past year, more than 1,000 firms in the region failed due to the lack of funding.

• If a bank is unable to manage its debts, it may fail and result in significant financial losses for investors.

Synonyms

C

to collapse

vsto fail

579 3.9

To fall down suddenly, for example when a person faints or a building breaks

is narrower, naming financial insolvency that makes a business stop

F

to fold

vsto fail

81 5.3

Close a business because it cannot pay its costs

is the broader label for business insolvency that leads to closure

G

to go bankrupt

vsto fail

73 3.5

To be unable to pay debts

is the general verb describing business insolvency and end of operations

G

to go under

vsto fail

43 4.4

Fail because of money problems

is focused on business insolvency that ends operations rather than sinking literally

G

to go belly up

vsto fail

• Informal

15 5.3

To fail completely and close, especially a business or project

is the neutral, formal description for the same business ending

B

to belly up

vsto fail

• Informal

7 7.9

Stop operating because it has run out of money

is the neutral, formal description for that same business ending

F

to founder

vsto fail

5 6.8

To fail completely because of problems with plans or projects

refers specifically to financial insolvency causing a business to end

G

to go in the toilet

vsto fail

• Informal

1 7.9

To fail completely

is about business inability to meet debts and close operations

Antonyms

T

to thrive

241 3.2

To grow well and be successful

P

to prosper

88 3.7

To become successful or grow well, often by making money

Idioms

W

words fail (someone)

7.6

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

W

to words fail you

7.4

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

Phrasal Verbs

N

to never fail to

14 2.7

Always make the same thing happen

F

to fail to impress

2 4.1

Not make people think something is good or special

N

to never fail to amuse

1 3.5

To always make people laugh

Compounds

F

fail-safe

• Specialized

11 5.0

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

F

fail-safe

• Specialized

3 5.6

Designed to work safely if something goes wrong

How Solvent

to prosper

88 3.7

to survive

∞ 2.7

to fail

• Specialized

361 5.1

Surface Forms

Etymology