fail - English dictionary definition

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1. Fail  To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence; to cease to be furnished in the usual or expected manner, or to be altogether cut off from supply; to be lacking; as, streams fail; crops fail.
2. Fail  To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; -- used with of.
3. Fail  To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.
4. Fail  To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails.
5. Fail  To perish; to die; -- used of a person.
6. Fail  To be found wanting with respect to an action or a duty to be performed, a result to be secured, etc.; to miss; not to fulfill expectation.
7. Fail  To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be baffled or frusrated.
8. Fail  To err in judgment; to be mistaken.
9. Fail  To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.
10. Fail  To be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to desert.