English
Pronunciation
audio|en-us-fail.ogg|Audio (US)
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-eɪl|-eɪl
Verb
en-verb
- transitive: To not achieve a particular goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive. The engine failed to start.)
- transitive: To be negligent in one's duty. (The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors.)
- intransitive: To be unsuccessful in academic pursuits. (I failed in English last year.)
- intransitive, of a machine, etc.: To cease to operate correctly. (After running five minutes, the engine failed.)
- transitive: To give a student a non-passing grade, thereby causing the student to fail (3) a class or other academic endeavor.
Usage notes
This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs
Translations
Czech: selhat
Danish: ikke kunne (1); ikke have (2); dumpe (3); standse (4)
Dutch: falen (3)
German: scheitern (3)
Hebrew: ���ש� m
Russian: п�овали�� (3)
Noun
en-noun
- a failure, especially of a financial transaction
- a failing grade in an academic examination
Derived terms
failure
fail-safe
Category:English control verbs
Category:English ergative verbs
fr:fail
io:fail
it:fail
ku:fail
hu:fail
ja:fail
fi:fail
ta:fail
te:fail
vi:fail
tr:fail
zh:fail
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