fails

1. fail to do something; leave something undoneExamples: "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"Synonyms: fail, neglect

2. be unsuccessfulExamples: "Where do today's public schools fail?"; "The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably"Synonyms: fail, go wrong, miscarryAntonyms: succeed

3. disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsakeExamples: "His sense of smell failed him this time"; "His strength finally failed him"; "His children failed him in the crisis"Synonyms: betray, fail

4. stop operating or functioningExamples: "The engine finally went"; "The car died on the road"; "The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town"Synonyms: break, break down, conk out, die, fail, give out, give way, go

5. be unableExamples: "I fail to understand your motives"Synonyms: failAntonyms: manage

6. judge unacceptableExamples: "The teacher failed six students"Synonyms: failAntonyms: pass