fail
v.v. to not succeed in doing something you tried to do. It also means to not pass a test or to stop working correctly.
v. to be unsuccessful in achieving a goal or requirement; to fall short of a standard. Often used to describe mechanical breakdown or the lack of a passing grade in an academic context.
I hope I do not fail my driving test tomorrow.
The engine began to fail after several hours of driving through the heavy desert heat.
Despite their best efforts to secure the perimeter, the security systems continued to fail under the pressure of the unexpected digital assault.
Inherited from Middle English failen, borrowed from Old French falir, from Vulgar Latin fallire, alteration of Latin fallere (“to deceive, disappoint”), from Proto-Indo-European bʰāl- (“to lie, deceive”) or Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷʰh₂el- (“to stumble”). Compare Alemannic German fääle (“to lack”), Cimbrian béelan, véelan (“to fail”), veln (“to be absent, missing”), Dutch falen, feilen (“to fail, miss”), German fallieren, fehlen (“to fail, miss, lack”), Danish fejle (“to fail, err”), Swedish fallera (“to fail, break, malfunction”), Spanish fallar (“to fail, miss”).
Unknown. Compare Scottish Gaelic fàl (“hedge”), Scots faill (“turf”). Attested from the 16th century.
The verb can be used intransitively or transitively when referring to an examination or a specific task.
He failed from the examHe failed the examWhen referring to a test or course, the verb is transitive and does not require a preposition.