fail

A2 · Elementary

v. to not pass a test or an exam; also, when a teacher gives you a non-passing grade.

v. to receive or assign a non-passing grade in an academic context. Ambitransitive use.

日本語:落ちる※

“I am worried that I might fail my driving test for the second time.”

“The professor warned that he would fail any student who was caught plagiarising their final thesis.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. when a machine, a part of the body, or a system stops working correctly.

v. to cease functioning properly or to break down, often used of mechanical systems or biological organs.

日本語:故障する※

“The car's brakes failed while he was driving down the steep hill.”

“The backup generators failed during the storm, leaving the entire hospital without power for several critical hours.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to not be there for someone when they need you, or to disappoint them.

v. to prove deficient or insufficient in a time of need; to let someone down or desert them.

“I needed my friend's help, but she failed me when things got difficult.”

“Words failed him as he stood before the crowd, unable to express the depth of his gratitude for their support.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a result that is not a pass, or a situation that did not go well.

n. an instance of failure, particularly an academic grade that is not a pass.

“He was very upset when he saw a fail on his report card.”

“The inspector recorded a fail for the building's safety systems, citing several blocked emergency exits.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal · Slang

n. a funny or embarrassing mistake, often shown in videos or photos.

n. a humiliating or ridiculous mistake or failure, often used in digital contexts to mock an error.

“The video of the cat missing the jump was a total fail.”

“The marketing campaign was an absolute fail, as the slogan was accidentally translated into something offensive.”