fail
gb/fˈeɪl/ us/fˈeɪl/
A2
Inglés
~ 700
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Verbo
A2
action
1
To be unsuccessful
To not do something you tried to do.
Patrón de uso:
to fail to [do something]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fail doing something' with 'fail to do something'. The correct form is usually 'fail to do something'.
Sinónimos
be unsuccessful (A more neutral and descriptive phrase without strong connotation.)
Antónimos
succeed (Indicates achieving the desired result, opposite of failing.)
Colocaciones
fail miserably
|fail completely
|fail to deliver
|fail the test
|fail in business
Temas
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- She failed to meet the project deadline.
- The team failed to score in the final minutes.
- I tried to fix the computer but failed.
- He failed in his attempt to climb the mountain.
- The company failed to impress investors.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I failed to finish my homework.
- He failed to open the door.
- They failed to win the game.
- We failed to catch the bus.
- She failed to find her phone.
Verbo
A2
action
2
To not pass an exam
To not get a passing mark in a test or class.
Patrón de uso:
to fail [a test/course]
Error frecuente:
Learners may say 'I got fail' instead of 'I failed'. 'Fail' is a verb and should be used correctly in past tense when needed.
Sinónimos
flunk (Informal; common in American English for failing a test or course.)
Antónimos
pass (Indicates achieving the required standard in a test or course.)
Colocaciones
fail an exam
|fail a course
|fail a subject
Temas
education
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- I failed my driving test twice before passing.
- She failed chemistry last semester.
- He failed the math exam by just two points.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I failed my English test.
- She failed the history exam.
- He failed the science class.
Verbo
B1
action
3
To break down or stop working
When something like a machine stops working.
Patrón de uso:
[something] fails
Sinónimos
malfunction (More technical term for something not working properly.)
Antónimos
work (Means functioning as intended, opposite of fail here.)
Colocaciones
brake failure
|system fails
|engine fails
Temas
technology
|engineering
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The brakes on the car failed suddenly.
- The heating system failed during the night.
- The experiment failed because the equipment stopped working.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The light failed during the storm.
- The engine failed on the road.
- The computer failed yesterday.
Verbo
B1
action
4
To not provide what is needed
To not give enough help or support when needed.
Patrón de uso:
to fail [someone/something]
Sinónimos
let down (Informal, focuses on disappointing someone by not supporting them.)
Antónimos
support (Means giving help or assistance, opposite of failing in this sense.)
Colocaciones
fail someone badly
|fail to support
Temas
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- His courage never failed him during the crisis.
- The government has failed its citizens on healthcare.
- I promised never to fail you.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I will not fail you.
- The teacher failed her students.
- He failed his friend in trouble.
Sustantivo
informal
B2
entity
5
Complete failure or disaster
A big mistake or something that goes very badly.
Sinónimos
disaster (A serious failure, though 'disaster' can be more severe than 'fail' in slang use.)
Antónimos
win (Slang antonym meaning a big success.)
Colocaciones
epic fail
|massive fail
Temas
internet culture
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- That spelling mistake on the sign is a total fail.
- Forgetting my passport was an epic fail.
- The ad campaign turned out to be a huge fail.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- It was a big fail.
- That game was a fail.
- Her plan was a fail.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
fail
AFI
GB/fˈeɪl/
US/fˈeɪl/
Sílabas y acento
fail (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (fail)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: fail
- Plural: fail
Verb
- Base: fail
- 3rd Person Singular: fails
- Present Participle: failing
- Past: failed
Familia de palabras
Forms
fails
verb
failing
verb
failed
verb
Core family
failure
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
unfailing
adjective
Advanced or less common
unfailingly
adverb
Expresiones
fail miserably
1/fˈeɪl mˈɪzɚəbli/
fixed phrase
Completely and obviously fail at something
To be very unsuccessful at something.
Ejemplos
- He tried to fix it himself but failed miserably.
- They failed miserably at keeping it a secret.
fail to see (how/why)
1/fˈeɪl tə sˈi hˈaʊwi/
fixed phrase
Not understand why something is so
To not understand why something is true or needed.
Ejemplos
- I fail to see how this plan will work.
- She fails to see why we need more staff.
epic fail
1/ˈɛpɪk fˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
informal
Very big and obvious failure
A very big and embarrassing mistake or failure.
Ejemplos
- Spilling coffee on my boss was an epic fail.
- The presentation was an epic fail from start to finish.
epic fail
2/ˈɛpɪk fˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
slang
very big and obvious failure
A complete and very obvious failure, often in a way that looks silly or embarrassing.
Ejemplos
- My attempt to bake a cake was an epic fail when it collapsed in the oven.
- The app launch was an epic fail, crashing for almost every user on the first day.
- He called the speech an epic fail after forgetting half of his notes.
epic fail
3/ˈɛpɪk fˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
informal
Very big embarrassing mistake or defeat
A very big and embarrassing mistake or lack of success.
Ejemplos
- Forgetting my lines on stage was an epic fail.
- That presentation was an epic fail.
without fail
1/wɪðˈaʊt fˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
Always happens without exception
Always happens, every time, without exceptions.
Ejemplos
- He calls his mother every Sunday without fail.
- The train arrives at 8:30 without fail.
without fail
2/wɪðˈaʊt fˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
Happens every single time
Always happens; no exceptions.
Ejemplos
- She calls me every Sunday without fail.
- The bus arrives at 8:00 without fail.
without fail
3/wɪðˈaʊt fˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
always; every single time
Always happens or is done, no matter what.
Ejemplos
- She calls me every Sunday without fail.
- The bus arrives at 8 a.m. without fail.