fail

verb

1. 1

   get worse

   Her health is declining

2. 2

   stop operating or functioning

   The engine finally went

   The car died on the road

3. 3

   prove insufficient

   The water supply for the town failed after a long drought

4. 4

   disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake

   His sense of smell failed him this time

   His strength finally failed him

5. 5

   become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close

   The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor

   A number of banks failed that year

6. 6

   fall short in what is expected

   She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law

   We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust

7. 7

   fail to get a passing grade

   She studied hard but failed nevertheless

   Did I fail the test?

8. 8

   judge unacceptable

   The teacher failed six students

9. 9

   be unsuccessful

   Where do today's public schools fail?

   The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably

10. 10

    fail to do something; leave something undone

    She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib

    The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account

11. 11

    be unable

    I fail to understand your motives