Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷʰh₂el-der.
Proto-Italic *falsō?
Classical Latin fallere
Vulgar Latin *fallīre
Old French falirbor.
Middle English failen
English fail
Inherited from Middle English failen, borrowed from Old French falir, from Vulgar Latin *fallire, alteration of Latin fallere (“to deceive, disappoint”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰāl- (“to lie, deceive”) or Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷʰh₂el- (“to stumble”).
Compare Alemannic German fääle (“to lack”), Cimbrian béelan, véelan (“to fail”), veln (“to be absent, missing”), Dutch falen, feilen (“to fail, miss”), German fallieren, fehlen (“to fail, miss, lack”), Danish fejle (“to fail, err”), Swedish fallera (“to fail, break, malfunction”), Spanish fallar (“to fail, miss”).
Meanings
(US, slang) Unsuccessful; inadequate; unacceptable in some way.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷʰh₂el-der.
Proto-Italic *falsō?
Classical Latin fallere
Vulgar Latin *fallīre
Old French falirbor.
Middle English failen
English fail
Inherited from Middle English failen, borrowed from Old French falir, from Vulgar Latin *fallire, alteration of Latin fallere (“to deceive, disappoint”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰāl- (“to lie, deceive”) or Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷʰh₂el- (“to stumble”).
Compare Alemannic German fääle (“to lack”), Cimbrian béelan, véelan (“to fail”), veln (“to be absent, missing”), Dutch falen, feilen (“to fail, miss”), German fallieren, fehlen (“to fail, miss, lack”), Danish fejle (“to fail, err”), Swedish fallera (“to fail, break, malfunction”), Spanish fallar (“to fail, miss”).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A failure, especially of a financial transaction (a termination of an action).
(countable, uncountable) A failing grade in an academic examination.
(US, countable, slang, uncountable) A failure (something incapable of success).
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷʰh₂el-der.
Proto-Italic *falsō?
Classical Latin fallere
Vulgar Latin *fallīre
Old French falirbor.
Middle English failen
English fail
Inherited from Middle English failen, borrowed from Old French falir, from Vulgar Latin *fallire, alteration of Latin fallere (“to deceive, disappoint”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰāl- (“to lie, deceive”) or Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷʰh₂el- (“to stumble”).
Compare Alemannic German fääle (“to lack”), Cimbrian béelan, véelan (“to fail”), veln (“to be absent, missing”), Dutch falen, feilen (“to fail, miss”), German fallieren, fehlen (“to fail, miss, lack”), Danish fejle (“to fail, err”), Swedish fallera (“to fail, break, malfunction”), Spanish fallar (“to fail, miss”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To be unsuccessful.
If they ſhoulde gyue battayle it was to be doubted, leaſt through treaſon amõgſt themſelues, the armie ſhould be betrayed into the enimies hands, the which would not fayle to execute all kinde of crueltie in the ſlaughter of the whole nation. 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Englande”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 249, column 1:
Throughout my life, I have always failed.
As the world’s drug habit shows, governments are failing in their quest to monitor every London window-box and Andean hillside for banned plants. But even that Sisyphean task looks easy next to the fight against synthetic drugs. No sooner has a drug been blacklisted than chemists adjust their recipe and start churning out a subtly different one. 2013 August 10, “A new prescription”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:
(transitive) Not to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.)
The truck failed to start.
(transitive) To neglect.
The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors.
Those who have advocated the closure of the G.C. have so far failed to say by which alternative route this North-to-West traffic could be carried. 1960 December, B. Perren, “The role of the Great Central—present and future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 765:
(intransitive) Of a machine, etc.: to cease to operate correctly.
We also found that the only emergency egress from the tram was by smashing the front or rear windscreens, and that emergency lighting had failed when the tram overturned. 2021 December 29, Dominique Louis, “Causal analysis: crashworthiness at Sandilands”, in RAIL, number 947, page 33:
After running five minutes, the engine failed.
(transitive) To be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert; to disappoint one's expectations.
I think... I might've... failed Pomni. Just like I failed Jax. Try too hard to get on their good side, and then I just... end up pushing them away! And then they end up hating me! 2025 August 15, Gooseworx, “They All Get Guns” (18:32 from the start), in The Amazing Digital Circus, episode 6, spoken by Ragatha (Amanda Hufford):
There shall not fail thee a man on the throne. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Kings 2:4:
I've failed my parents many times growing up.
That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
A poor Irish Widow […] went forth with her three children, bare of all resource, to solicit help from the Charitable Establishments of that City. At this Charitable Establishment and then at that she was refused; referred from one to the other, helped by none; — till she had exhausted them all; till her strength and heart failed her: she sank down in typhus-fever […] 1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “ch. II, Gospel of Mammonism”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book III (The Modern Worker):
(ambitransitive) To receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.
I failed English last year.
(transitive) To give a student a non-passing grade in an academic endeavour.
The professor failed me because I did not complete any of the course assignments.
(obsolete, transitive) To miss attaining; to lose.
though that seat of earthly bliss be failed 1671, John Milton, “The Fourth Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence.
Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
as the waters fail from the sea 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 14:11:
The crops failed last year.
(archaic) To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; used with of.
If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not to be attributed to their size. 1757, Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful:
(archaic) To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.
When earnestly they seek / Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail. 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
(archaic) To deteriorate in respect to vigour, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker.
A sick man fails.
(obsolete) To perish; to die; used of a person.
had the king in his last sickness failed 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
(obsolete) To err in judgment; to be mistaken.
Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps / Shall grieve him, if I fail not. 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
(intransitive) To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.
"But you cannot tell where she went on leaving here?" Robert asked, despondingly.
"No, sir; missus says she believes the lady failed, and that she left sudden like, and didn't want her address to be known in the neighbourhood." 1862, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley's Secret:
it bocciare (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · cmn 失敗 /失败 (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fi vikaantua (cease to operate) · bg не рабо́тя (cease to operate) · ko 실패하다 (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · it ignorare (be negligent) · hu nem sikerül (neki) (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · hu nem (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · es desaprobar (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · no svikte (be negligent) · gd fàillig (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ru не уда́ться (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fi pysähtyä (cease to operate) · fr s'arrêter (cease to operate) · hu magára hagy (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · ro pica (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · hu elmulaszt (be negligent) · gl marrar (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · hu nem sikerül (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · qu qulluy (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · it negligere (be negligent) · mi rahua (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fi pysäyttää (cause to fail) · fr rater (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ga clis (cease to operate) · fr recaler (cause to fail) · fi pettää (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · mi paheke (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · hu elbukik (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · km ខ្សុយ (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · bg прова́лям се (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · la dēsum (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · da fejle (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · th พัง (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · hu kudarcot vall (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · la dēficiō (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ar رَسَبَ (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · fr oublier (be negligent) · ru не спра́виться (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · it fallire (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fi vikautua (cease to operate) · el αποτυγχάνω (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · th ตก (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · ru не рабо́тать (cease to operate) · ru провалить (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · cs nechat propadnout (cause to fail) · nl mislukken (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · gl mancar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · da dumpe (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · grc διαμαρτάνω (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ga clis ar (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ca espatllar-se (cease to operate) · sq ngel (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · mr फेल होणे (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · ca fallar (cease to operate) · mi ngaengae (cease to operate) · pt fracassar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ca fracassar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · es desaprobar (to give a student a non-passing grade) · es darse un sentón (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · pt deixar de (be negligent) · fi mennä rikki (cease to operate) · tl mabigo (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · hu megbuktat (cause to fail) · he כשל (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · it cannare (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · fr rater (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fr recaler (to give a student a non-passing grade) · ru потерпе́ть неуда́чу (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · fr saquer (to give a student a non-passing grade) · fi epäonnistua (be negligent) · fi saada hylätty (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · it toppare (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ro se strica (cease to operate) · hu otthagy (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · fi rikkoontua (cease to operate) · et seiskuma (cease to operate) · tr sınıfta bırakmak (cause to fail) · gl fracasar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · sq mundem (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · hu cserben hagy (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · nl mislukken (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · de scheitern (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fi ei (be negligent) · ro rata (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · mi ngere (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · fa شکست خوردن (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · de fehlschlagen (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · fi epäonnistua (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · da forsømme (be negligent) · de versagen (cease to operate) · it fare bancarotta (cease to operate) · cy methu (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · tl biguin (cause to fail) · la dēficiō (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ca fracassar (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · acw سقط (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · nb mislykkes (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · bg отка́звам (cease to operate) · hu sikertelen (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · es reprobar (to give a student a non-passing grade) · hu felmondja a szolgálatot (cease to operate) · ru провали́ться (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · es suspender (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · hu elhagy (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · grc ἀστοχέω (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ja 失敗する (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ang trucian (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · nl buizen (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · fr faillir (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · es no llegar a (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · it fallire (cease to operate) · pl zawieść (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · ga tréig (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · hu megbukik (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · it omettere (be negligent) · bg не сполу́чвам (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fr échouer (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · it andare in bancarotta (cease to operate) · fr échouer (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · fr décevoir (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · nl falen (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · es reprobar (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · sv misslyckas (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fr omettre (be negligent) · eo malsukcesi (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · it mancare (be negligent) · da mislykkes (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · acw فِشِل (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · grc ἀποτυγχάνω (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · pt deixar de (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · et edutu (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ar أَخْفَقَ (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fi vioittua (cease to operate) · sv mankera (cease to operate) · tl mabigo (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ru не удава́ться (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · pt falhar (cease to operate) · gl mancar (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · txb kwäl- (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · nl mankeren (cease to operate) · ro strica (cause to fail) · uk зазна́ти невда́чі (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · pt não conseguir (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · fi rikkoa (cause to fail) · gl falir (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · pl przestać działać (cease to operate) · mi tāporepore (cease to operate) · mi tapore (cease to operate) · ru выходи́ть из стро́я (cease to operate) · tr sınıfta kalmak (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · cs propadnout (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · cs přestat fungovat (cease to operate) · ar فَشِلَ (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fi ei (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · cs selhat (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ru терпе́ть неуда́чу (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · es improbar (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · es no lograr (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · no feile (cease to operate) · grc ἀστοχέω (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ru пренебре́чь (be negligent) · gl apengar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ru вы́йти из стро́я (cease to operate) · da undlade (be negligent) · ru терпе́ть неуда́чу (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · tl bumagsak (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · cmn 故障 (cease to operate) · sv svika (be negligent) · gl falir (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · acw رسب (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · gd fàillig (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · hu elfelejt (be negligent) · ru прова́ливать (cause to fail) · nb mislykkes (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · mr नापास होणे (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · he נִכְשַׁל (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · pl nie udać się (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · hu elromlik (cease to operate) · de nicht gelingen (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · it fallire (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · cy ffili (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · da dumpe (cause to fail) · ga clis (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · ru прова́ливаться (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · hu csődöt mond (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · es no conseguir (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ga meath (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · gl marrar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · grc ἀποτυγχάνω (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · pt falhar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · nl buizen (cause to fail) · pt reprovar (cause to fail) · sq dështoj (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ky жол болбоо (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · th เจ๊ง (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · et nurjuma (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · es fallar (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · la dēsum (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · it fare cilecca (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ru потерпе́ть неуда́чу (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fi reputtaa (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · hu nem jár sikerrel (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · gl apengar (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · mi taka (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · es suspender (to give a student a non-passing grade) · es fracasar (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ky иш ордунан чыкпай калуу (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · la dēsum (be negligent) · fi vioittaa (cause to fail) · ru не справля́ться (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · it tralasciare (be negligent) · fa موفق نشدن (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · vi thất bại (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · es zozobrar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · de missglücken (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ru проёбываться (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · pt pifar (cease to operate) · sv misslyckas (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · id gagal (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fr tomber en panne (cease to operate) · da slå fejl (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · fr être insuffisant (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · fi hajota (cease to operate) · hu meghibásodik (cease to operate) · cs selhávat (be negligent) · es fracasar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · es catear (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · es catear (to give a student a non-passing grade) · es escollar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · eo malsukcesigi (cause to fail) · es pararse (cease to operate) · de keinen Erfolg haben (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · nl negeren (be negligent) · es reprobar (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · fi rikkoutua (cease to operate) · ru пренебрега́ть (be negligent) · da svigte (cease to operate) · hu tönkremegy (cease to operate) · fr rater (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · fr cesser (cease to operate) · bg не успя́вам (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · grc διαμαρτάνω (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · fr négliger (be negligent) · gl fracasar (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · nl falen (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · th ล้มเหลว (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · de ohne Erfolg bleiben (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · th พัง (cease to operate) · ga clis ar (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · ru провали́ть (cause to fail) · th ล้มเหลว (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · pl zawodzić (to be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert) · fa خراب شدن (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · sv fallera (cease to operate) · ms gagal (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · es improbar (to give a student a non-passing grade) · es negar (transitive: not achieve a stated goal) · ru проеба́ться (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · fa تصورکردن (intransitive: be unsuccessful) · de durchfallen (to receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits) · tl pumalpak (be negligent)