failed
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of failed
First recorded in 1650–60; fail ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"We spent so many months with no fresh rations as the ships failed to reach here, or the limited vegetables they were carrying were spoiled during the long journey," she recalled.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
It said tax authorities had failed to prove she spent 183 days in Spain in 2011 - the minimum required for residents to pay personal income tax there.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The couple said Pulte responded to their complaints, but performed only cosmetic repairs of a ceiling crack and ultimately failed to address the underlying soil issue.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
But here’s the jujitsu move: McElroy then neutralized O’Connor’s order to enforce the subpoena by nullifying the subpoena itself, because the DOJ had failed to identify any possible law-breaking by the hospital.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
As they clicked through experiment after experiment, Dr. Wright’s voice got more and more dejected with each failed attempt.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
