Dictionary
English - Spanish

Fail

feɪl
Extremely common
600 - 700
600 - 700
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

fallar, fracasar, suspender, no lograr

Fail meanings in Spanish

fallar

Example:
I failed the test because I didn't study enough.
Fallé en el examen porque no estudié lo suficiente.
The machine failed to start due to a technical problem.
La máquina falló al encenderse debido a un problema técnico.
Usage: formalContext: Academic, technical, or formal situations
Note: The most common translation of 'fail' in the sense of not succeeding or malfunctioning.

fracasar

Example:
If you don't plan well, you are likely to fail.
Si no planeas bien, es probable que fracases.
The business failed after just a few months.
El negocio fracasó después de solo unos meses.
Usage: formalContext: Business, academic, or serious situations
Note: Used to indicate a significant lack of success or performance.

suspender

Example:
She failed her driving test for the third time.
Ella suspendió su examen de conducir por tercera vez.
If you fail to meet the requirements, you will not pass the course.
Si suspendes los requisitos, no aprobarás el curso.
Usage: formalContext: Educational or official examinations
Note: Commonly used in the context of exams or assessments.

no lograr

Example:
I failed to convince them to come with us.
No logré convencerlos de que vinieran con nosotros.
She failed to complete the project on time.
Ella no logró terminar el proyecto a tiempo.
Usage: formalContext: Achieving a goal or completing a task
Note: Expresses the inability to achieve a particular outcome or objective.

Fail's synonyms

fall short

To not reach a particular standard or goal.
Example: She fell short of passing the exam by just a few points.
Note: This phrase emphasizes not meeting a specific target or expectation.

flunk

To fail an exam or course.
Example: He flunked the math test because he didn't study enough.
Note: This term is commonly used in educational contexts to indicate failing a specific academic assessment.

flop

To be completely unsuccessful or a failure.
Example: The new product launch was a flop, as it didn't attract many customers.
Note: This term is often used in the context of businesses, products, or events that do not succeed as expected.

fall through

To fail to materialize or be completed as planned.
Example: Their plans to travel together fell through due to unexpected circumstances.
Note: This phrase is used when something that was intended to happen does not end up happening.

Fail expressions, common phrases

Fail miserably

To fail in a very bad or complete way.
Example: He failed miserably at the attempt to fix the car engine.
Note: The addition of 'miserably' intensifies the level of failure.

Epic fail

A failure that is particularly grand or monumental.
Example: The product launch was an epic fail due to poor marketing strategies.
Note: Using 'epic' emphasizes the magnitude of the failure.

Fail to see the forest for the trees

To be so involved in the small details that the overall situation or context is missed.
Example: She was so focused on the details that she failed to see the bigger picture.
Note: This idiom highlights a failure in perspective or understanding.

Fail to live up to expectations

Not meeting or fulfilling the expectations that were set.
Example: The movie failed to live up to the high expectations set by the trailer.
Note: This phrase emphasizes the discrepancy between what was expected and what actually occurred.

Fail-safe

A measure taken to prevent complete failure or to minimize the effects of failure.
Example: The fail-safe system ensured that the data was backed up regularly.
Note: Unlike 'fail', 'fail-safe' indicates a backup plan or precaution to avoid failure.

Fail forward

To view failure as a stepping stone to success by learning from it and progressing.
Example: It’s okay to fail forward as long as you learn from your mistakes and keep moving.
Note: This phrase promotes a positive outlook on failure as a means of growth and progress.

Fail at the final hurdle

To fail at the last or most crucial stage of a process or task.
Example: He had trained hard for the race but failed at the final hurdle.
Note: This phrase highlights failing at the critical moment, often after putting in effort up to that point.

Fail everyday (slang) expressions

Bite the dust

This slang term refers to failing or being defeated.
Example: He thought he could pass the exam, but ended up biting the dust.
Note: It adds a more dramatic or emphatic tone compared to just saying 'fail.'

Fall flat

When something fails to produce the intended effect or impress others.
Example: The comedian's joke fell flat with the audience.
Note: It implies a lack of success or impact beyond just not succeeding.

Go down in flames

To fail spectacularly or disastrously.
Example: Their new product launch went down in flames due to poor marketing.
Note: It conveys a sense of crashing and burning in a dramatic way.

Tank

To fail badly or utterly underperform.
Example: The team tanked in the championship game and lost by a huge margin.
Note: It suggests a significant failure, often in a competitive context.

Crash and burn

To fail completely or suffer a catastrophic failure.
Example: Their startup crashed and burned after only a few months.
Note: It vividly describes a situation where failure is swift and total.

Fail - Examples

The project was a fail.
El proyecto fue un fracaso.
She failed the exam.
Ella reprobó el examen.
The company's new product launch was a complete fail.
El lanzamiento del nuevo producto de la empresa fue un completo fracaso.

Fail grammar

Fail - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)
Lemma: fail
Conjugations
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): fail
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): fail
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): failed
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): failing
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): fails
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): fail
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): fail
Syllables, Separation and Stress
fail Contains 1 syllables: fail
Phonetic transcription: ˈfāl
fail , ˈfāl (The red syllable is stressed)

Fail - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
fail: 600 - 700 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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