fail

/feɪl/
🔵 Intermediate

Word Statistics

Difficulty LevelIntermediate

Standard vocabulary

Word FrequencyVery Common

Used frequently in everyday conversation

Syllables1

Simple pronunciation

Analysis:

  • Common vocabulary word
  • Simple pronunciation

noun

1. Poor quality; substandard workmanship.

"The project was full of fail."

2. A failure (condition of being unsuccessful)

3. A failure (something incapable of success)

4. A failure, especially of a financial transaction (a termination of an action).

5. A failing grade in an academic examination.

verb

1. To be unsuccessful.

"Throughout my life, I have always failed."

2. Not to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.)

"The truck failed to start."

3. To neglect.

"The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors."

4. Of a machine, etc.: to cease to operate correctly.

"After running five minutes, the engine failed."

5. To be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert.

6. To receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.

"I failed English last year."

7. To give a student a non-passing grade in an academic endeavour.

"The professor failed me because I did not complete any of the course assignments."

8. To miss attaining; to lose.

9. To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence.

"The crops failed last year."

10. To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; used with of.

11. To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.

12. To deteriorate in respect to vigour, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker.

"A sick man fails."

13. To perish; to die; used of a person.

14. To err in judgment; to be mistaken.

15. To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.

Synonyms

Antonyms

adjective

1. That is a failure.

fail

/feɪl/
🔵 Intermediate

Word Statistics

Difficulty LevelIntermediate

Standard vocabulary

Word FrequencyVery Common

Used frequently in everyday conversation

Syllables1

Simple pronunciation

Analysis:

  • Common vocabulary word
  • Simple pronunciation

noun

1. A piece of turf cut from grassland.

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