fail
Not make it
The verb fail is the opposite of succeed.
You can fail an exam, a year in school, or an inspection.
If a business fails it goes bankrupt.
If you fail to do something, you do not do it.
Without fail is used as a stronger version of always, to suggest that failure must be avoided.
Failure is the normal verbal noun of fail but in recent use, fail is a count noun in its own right: Her attempt at the pole vault was a huge fail.
Fail a course
- examFormal knowledge assessment
- testEvaluative examination
- gradeClassification by rank
- coursePlanned path forward
class · retake · repeat · dropout · probation · remedial · GPA · incomplete
Miss or commanding view
ignore · disregard · lapse · dereliction · abandon · drop the ball · fall short · let down
Make an effort
- attemptEffort to accomplish
- effortApplied energy toward goals
- endeavorPurposeful sustained attempt
- ventureRisky new undertaking
undertaking · misfire · backfire · fizzle · flop · bomb · tank · bust
Crawling creature or defect
- glitchMinor system fault
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- crashSudden violent impact
- exceptionDeviation from standard
abort · hang · freeze · corrupted · dysfunction · misfire · system · software
Fragment gradually
- break downFail mechanically or emotionally
- give wayCollapse or relent
- buckleFrame-and-prong fastener
- cave inCollapse or yield
disintegrate · implode · topple · fracture · shatter · structural · foundation · infrastructure
flunk
Fail a course
course · class · retake · repeat · dropout · probation · remedial · GPA · incomplete · unsatisfactory
overlook
Miss or commanding view
forget · ignore · disregard · lapse · dereliction · abandon · drop the ball · fall short · let down · disappoint
try
Make an effort
venture · undertaking · misfire · backfire · fizzle · flop · bomb · tank · bust · dud
bug
Crawling creature or defect
- glitchMinor system fault
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- crashSudden violent impact
exception · abort · hang · freeze · corrupted · dysfunction · misfire · system · software · hardware
crumble
Fragment gradually
- break downFail mechanically or emotionally
- give wayCollapse or relent
- buckleFrame-and-prong fastener
cave in · disintegrate · implode · topple · fracture · shatter · structural · foundation · infrastructure · bridge
stumble
Lose footing momentarily
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
- flounderStruggle awkwardly, or seafood
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
stall · stagnate · regress · backslide · relapse · slump · decline · downturn · reversal · obstacle
loss
Being without something
vanquished · overcome · succumb · fall · surrender · capitulate · submit · yield · forfeit · concede
- word ladder wordshead, tail, lead, gold, cold
- school termsfreshman, sophomore, junior, senior, homework
- Academic Recordstranscript, diploma, grades, GPA, degree
- assessmentevaluating, test, analyzing, exam, assessing
- binary statesyes, no, true, on, off
- bloopersbloopers, blooper, gag reel, outtakes, gag reels
failpass
Move beyond or decline
ace · make the grade · graduate · qualify · get through
- without failCertainly, every time
- heart failureInadequate blood pumping condition
- power failureLoss of electrical service
- engine failureLoss of motor function
- grid failureElectrical network collapse
- failed statesCountries lacking functional government
failure, failing, failed, fails, unfailing, failings, failures, unfailingly, fail-safe