fail
gb/fˈeɪl/ us/fˈeɪl/
A2
Anglais
~ 700
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
A2
action
1
To be unsuccessful
To not do something you tried to do.
Schéma d’usage :
to fail to [do something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'fail doing something' with 'fail to do something'. The correct form is usually 'fail to do something'.
Synonymes
be unsuccessful (A more neutral and descriptive phrase without strong connotation.)
Antonymes
succeed (Indicates achieving the desired result, opposite of failing.)
Collocations
fail miserably
|fail completely
|fail to deliver
|fail the test
|fail in business
Thèmes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- 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.
Verbe
A2
action
2
To not pass an exam
To not get a passing mark in a test or class.
Schéma d’usage :
to fail [a test/course]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may say 'I got fail' instead of 'I failed'. 'Fail' is a verb and should be used correctly in past tense when needed.
Synonymes
flunk (Informal; common in American English for failing a test or course.)
Antonymes
pass (Indicates achieving the required standard in a test or course.)
Collocations
fail an exam
|fail a course
|fail a subject
Thèmes
education
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- I failed my driving test twice before passing.
- She failed chemistry last semester.
- He failed the math exam by just two points.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I failed my English test.
- She failed the history exam.
- He failed the science class.
Verbe
B1
action
3
To break down or stop working
When something like a machine stops working.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] fails
Synonymes
malfunction (More technical term for something not working properly.)
Antonymes
work (Means functioning as intended, opposite of fail here.)
Collocations
brake failure
|system fails
|engine fails
Thèmes
technology
|engineering
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The brakes on the car failed suddenly.
- The heating system failed during the night.
- The experiment failed because the equipment stopped working.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The light failed during the storm.
- The engine failed on the road.
- The computer failed yesterday.
Verbe
B1
action
4
To not provide what is needed
To not give enough help or support when needed.
Schéma d’usage :
to fail [someone/something]
Synonymes
let down (Informal, focuses on disappointing someone by not supporting them.)
Antonymes
support (Means giving help or assistance, opposite of failing in this sense.)
Collocations
fail someone badly
|fail to support
Thèmes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- His courage never failed him during the crisis.
- The government has failed its citizens on healthcare.
- I promised never to fail you.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I will not fail you.
- The teacher failed her students.
- He failed his friend in trouble.
Nom
informal
B2
entity
5
Complete failure or disaster
A big mistake or something that goes very badly.
Synonymes
disaster (A serious failure, though 'disaster' can be more severe than 'fail' in slang use.)
Antonymes
win (Slang antonym meaning a big success.)
Collocations
epic fail
|massive fail
Thèmes
internet culture
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It was a big fail.
- That game was a fail.
- Her plan was a fail.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
fail
API
GB/fˈeɪl/
US/fˈeɪl/
Syllabes et accentuation
fail (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (fail)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: fail
- Plural: fail
Verb
- Base: fail
- 3rd Person Singular: fails
- Present Participle: failing
- Past: failed
Famille de mots
Forms
fails
verb
failing
verb
failed
verb
Core family
failure
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
unfailing
adjective
Advanced or less common
unfailingly
adverb
Expressions
fail miserably
1/fˈeɪl mˈɪzɚəbli/
fixed phrase
Completely and obviously fail at something
To be very unsuccessful at something.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- She calls me every Sunday without fail.
- The bus arrives at 8 a.m. without fail.