to not succeed in achieving a goal or task, to receive a grade that is below the passing mark

fail to see the point, fail to make the grade, fail at the first hurdle

fail miserably, fail to do something, fail-safe

Formal and Informal Expressions of fail

In different contexts, you can replace 'fail' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'be unsuccessful, fall short' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'flop, bomb' is a commonplace synonym.

fail: Explore its Definition & Usage

fail Definition

1to not succeed in achieving a goal or task
2to receive a grade that is below the passing mark

Using fail: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "fail" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
I failed my driving test for the third time.
Example
The company failed to meet its sales target this quarter.
Example
The cake failed to rise properly in the oven.
Example
He failed to show up for the meeting.

fail Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for fail

flunk
lose
fall short
miss the mark
come to nothing

Antonyms for fail

Idioms Using fail

fail to see the point
to not understand or appreciate the significance or value of something
Example
I fail to see the point of spending so much money on designer clothes.
fail to make the grade
to not meet the required standard or level of performance
Example
Despite his hard work, he failed to make the grade and was not selected for the team.
fail at the first hurdle
to fail at the very beginning of a task or project
Example
He failed at the first hurdle when he realized he didn't have the necessary tools for the job.

Phrases with fail

fail miserably
to fail in an extremely bad or embarrassing way
Example
Despite all his efforts, he failed miserably in his attempt to win her heart.
fail to do something
to not do something that was expected or required
Example
The government failed to take action to prevent the spread of the virus.
fail-safe
a system or plan designed to prevent failure or minimize the consequences of failure
Example
The new software includes a fail-safe mechanism to prevent data loss in case of a system crash.

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Summary: fail in Brief

To 'fail' [feɪl] means to not succeed in achieving a goal or task, or to receive a grade that is below the passing mark. It can refer to various contexts such as academic performance, work projects, or personal endeavors. Examples include 'I failed my driving test for the third time,' and 'The cake failed to rise properly in the oven.' The phrase 'fail miserably' emphasizes a particularly bad or embarrassing failure, while 'fail-safe' refers to a system or plan designed to prevent failure.