Academic / B1

FAYL/feɪl/

Fail means not succeed, or not do what is needed. Fail an exam; fail to reply. Pass is the opposite for tests. Miss is for not catching a bus or not attending. Failure is the noun. Fail can also describe machines: the brakes failed. Do not fail to is a formal way to say “make sure you do.”

Meaning

To not succeed, or to not do what is needed.

Examples

• “He failed the driving test.”
• “The plan failed because nobody followed it.”
• “He failed to mention the extra cost.”

Good to know

fail an exam. fail to + verb. Opposite (tests): pass. Noun: failure.

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