# failed

/ˈfeɪɫd/ (US) · /fˈeɪld/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. did not succeed

verb · CEFR A2

to not achieve a goal or not pass a test.

For teachers: the past tense of fail, indicating a lack of success in achieving a specific objective or meeting a standard.

- He failed his driving test twice before finally passing last month.
- The expedition failed to reach the summit due to deteriorating weather conditions and a critical shortage of oxygen supplies.

### 2. unsuccessful

adjective · CEFR B1

describing something that did not work or did not reach its goal.

For teachers: describing an attempt, project, or person that has not achieved the desired outcome.

- The police launched a search after a failed attempt to contact the witness.
- The company's failed expansion into the European market resulted in significant financial losses and a complete restructuring of the board.

### 3. bankrupt or broken

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing a business that has run out of money or a part of the body that no longer works.

For teachers: referring to a commercial entity that has become insolvent or a biological system that has ceased to function.

- The government had to step in to manage the failed bank.
- The surgeon explained that the patient required a transplant to replace the failed organ before systemic infection could take hold.

## Examples

- He failed the driving test twice.
- The rescue mission failed because the weather conditions became too dangerous for the helicopters to land.
- The structural integrity of the bridge was compromised when several support cables failed under the weight of the heavy traffic during the storm.

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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.