# fail

/ˈfeɪɫ/ (US) · /fˈeɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fail
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to be unsuccessful

verb · CEFR A2

to not succeed in achieving a goal or doing what you tried to do.

For teachers: to be unsuccessful in an endeavour or to fall short of a required standard.

- He failed to finish the race because he hurt his leg halfway through.
- Despite their significant investment in research and development, the startup failed to capture a viable share of the competitive smartphone market.

### 2. academic grading

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

- 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.

### 3. to stop working

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- 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.

### 4. to disappoint or let down

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 5. an unsuccessful result

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. an embarrassing mistake

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.