failed
English meaning: Failed
Definition
To be unsuccessful.
Example
“Throughout my life, I have always failed.”
Another example: “The brakes failed suddenly as the car descended the steep hill.”
Usage — When, Where & How
The past tense and past participle of 'fail', used across all registers to indicate lack of success in an attempt, test, or function. Often followed by 'to' plus an infinitive.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'faillir' (to be lacking, miss), from Latin 'fallere' (to deceive, disappoint); the verb dates to around the 13th century in English.
Synonyms
- unsuccessful
- floundered
- collapsed
- faltered
- flopped
Antonyms / Opposites
- succeeded
- passed
- triumphed
Related Words
Common Collocations
- failed to
- failed attempt
- failed miserably
- failed the test
- failed business
- narrowly failed
Word Forms
fail (v); failed; fails; failing; failure (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B