fail

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
fail/feɪl/

▶verb

• 1 be unsuccessful in an undertaking.

  ■ be unable to meet the standards set by (a test).

  ■ judge (a candidate in an examination or test) not to have passed.

• 2 neglect to do something.

  ■ disappoint expectations: commuter chaos has failed to materialize.

• 3 stop working properly.

  ■ become weaker or worse.

  ■ go out of business.

• 4 desert or let down: her nerve failed her.

▶noun a mark which is not high enough to pass an examination or test.

– phrases
without fail whatever happens.

– origin ME: from OFr. faillir (v.), faille (n.), based on L. fallere ‘deceive’.