flunk
gb/flˈʌŋk/ us/flˈʌŋk/
B2
English
megbukik, megbuktat, leszerepel, bukás, elégtelen
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
1
megbukik
B1
Usage pattern:
flunk [a test/exam/class/course]
He flunked the chemistry exam because he didn’t study.
Megbukott a kémiavizsgán, mert nem tanult.
If you flunk this class, you’ll have to retake it next semester.
Ha megbuksz ebből a tárgyból, jövő félévben újra fel kell venned.
She was terrified of flunking her driving test.
Learner examples
I flunked the test.
Megbuktam a teszten.
He flunked math.
Megbukott matekból.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse flunk with fluke (a lucky accident) or clunk (a heavy sound).
Meaning
fail a test or course
Collocations
flunk a test
|flunk an exam
|flunk a class
|flunk a course
|flunk math
|flunk the final
|flunk the midterm
|flunk the driving test
|flunk badly
|flunk again
Synonyms
fail (Neutral and more general than flunk.)
|
bomb (More slangy; often suggests doing extremely badly.)
Antonyms
pass (Achieve the required standard in a test or class.)
Themes
education
|school
|testing
Definition
to not pass a test or class
To fail an exam, test, class, or course, especially by getting a grade that is below the required passing standard.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
2
megbuktat
B1
Usage pattern:
flunk [someone] (in [subject/class])
The instructor flunked him for plagiarism.
Az oktató plágium miatt megbuktatta.
They can’t flunk you just because they don’t like you.
Nem buktathatnak meg csak azért, mert nem kedvelnek.
She was flunked in algebra twice before she finally passed.
Learner examples
The teacher flunked him.
A tanár megbuktatta.
They flunked her in math.
Megbuktatták matekból.
Common mistake:
In this meaning, the object is a person (e.g., flunk a student), not the test.
Meaning
give someone a failing grade
Collocations
flunk a student
|flunk someone in math
|flunk someone in the course
|flunk half the class
|flunk him for cheating
|flunk her on attendance
Synonyms
fail (More neutral; common in official contexts (fail a student).)
Antonyms
pass (Formally approve a student as meeting requirements.)
Themes
education
|school
Definition
to give someone an F; to fail them
To give a student a failing grade in a class or exam; to mark someone as having failed.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
3
megbukik
B1
leszerepel
B2
Usage pattern:
flunk [an interview/audition/inspection/evaluation]
He flunked the job interview by arriving late and unprepared.
Leszerepelt az állásinterjún, mert késve és felkészületlenül érkezett.
The restaurant flunked its health inspection.
Az étterem megbukott az egészségügyi ellenőrzésen.
I tried to sound confident, but I think I flunked the presentation.
Learner examples
He flunked the interview.
Leszerepelt az interjún.
Common mistake:
Flunk is most common with tests and school; for work situations, fail is more neutral.
Meaning
do very badly; fail at something
Collocations
flunk an interview
|flunk an audition
|flunk an inspection
|flunk a background check
|flunk the evaluation
|flunk the tryout
|flunk at something
Synonyms
fail (More general and less informal.)
|
mess up (Focuses on making mistakes rather than failing an official standard.)
Antonyms
succeed (Achieve the intended result or meet the standard.)
Themes
work
|daily_life
|evaluation
Definition
to do very badly and fail
To perform very poorly in an attempt or evaluation, or to fail at doing something that was expected.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
get [a] flunk (in [a subject/class])
He was embarrassed to bring home another flunk in algebra.
Szégyellte, hogy megint egyest vitt haza algebrából.
Two flunks in a row put her scholarship at risk.
Két egymást követő bukás veszélybe sodorta az ösztöndíját.
Learner examples
I got a flunk in math.
Egyest kaptam matekból.
Common mistake:
This noun use is less common than saying an F or a failing grade.
Meaning
a failure or failing grade
Collocations
get a flunk
|a flunk in math
|a flunk on the test
Synonyms
failure (More general; not limited to grades.)
|
F (Specifically the letter grade in many grading systems.)
Antonyms
pass (A passing result rather than a failing one.)
Themes
education
|school
|grades
Definition
a failing result
A failure, especially a failing grade or result in a class or exam.
Grammar
Dictionary form
flunk
IPA
GB/flˈʌŋk/
US/flˈʌŋk/
Syllables & stress
flunk (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (flunk)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: flunk
- 3rd Person Singular: flunks
- Present Participle: flunking
- Past: flunked
Word family
Forms
flunks
verb
flunking
verb
flunked
verb
Related words
flunker
noun
Negative and opposite forms
pass
verb A2
Expressions
flunk out
1/flˈʌŋk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
leave school because of failing
to leave school because you failed
Examples
- He flunked out of college after failing most of his first-year classes.
- She nearly flunked out, but she got tutoring and improved her grades.
- If you miss that many labs, you can flunk out of the program.
Learner examples
- He flunked out of college.