definition of
fail

[1] #1 fail v. [neglect] fail to do something; leave something undone; "She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib"; "The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account". wn

[2] #2 fail v. [go wrong, miscarry] be unsuccessful; "Where do today's public schools fail?"; "The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably". wn

[3] #3 fail v. [betray] disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake; "His sense of smell failed him this time"; "His strength finally failed him"; "His children failed him in the crisis". wn

[4] #4 fail v. [go bad, give way, die, give out, conk out, go, break, break down] stop operating or functioning; "The engine finally went"; "The car died on the road"; "The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town"; "The coffee maker broke"; "The engine failed on the way to town"; "her eyesight went after the accident". wn

[5] #5 fail v. be unable; "I fail to understand your motives". wn