- present participle of fail.
failing
Americannoun
-
failings
plural
-
an act or instance of failing; failure.
His failing is due to general incompetence.
-
a defect or fault; shortcoming; weakness.
His lack of knowledge is a grave failing.
preposition
noun
preposition
Synonym Usage
See fault.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of failing
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; see origin at fail, -ing 1
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.
See Examples For:
In 2025, the former West Bromwich branch of MPK was fined £2,150 by the government for failing to comply with the UK's money laundering regulations.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Unlike with a reverse mortgage, the home is sold, so there isn’t a risk of foreclosure for things like failing to pay property taxes or homeowners insurance.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
Officers said after failing to stop, the Audi made off in the direction of the A46 before travelling back towards Stratford on the A439 Warwick Road where the crash occured.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Bonta said he scrapped the planned Monday meeting and accused Paramount of failing to “maintain the confidentiality” of Friday’s gathering.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
“And you, my oldest friend. Do me one last service. Lift my head a little and I will tell you what my failing eyes can see before I leave you.”
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
The CMS said it had apologised for failings in this case.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
That said, ownership of BP’s historical failings is a good step forward for the investment case, and we look to the call for more clarity on the financial framework and tangible plans ahead.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
Wright said "greed, incompetence and an inability to keep up with his own failings" had all played a part in his crimes.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
The committee added that special forces involvement "should not prevent Parliament and the public from understanding how administrative failings occurred".
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
It was growing cold but he still didn’t want to go home and listen to his mother’s recital of his failings.
From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers
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.
