failing

[ fey-ling ]

See synonyms for failing on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

in the absence or default of: Failing payment, we shall sue.

Origin of failing

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; see origin at fail, -ing¹

synonym study For failing

2. See fault.

Other words from failing

fail·ing·ly, adverb
fail·ing·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use failing in a sentence

Thus, more time is spent organization and obtaining ones free of failings.
Design Your Own Dinosaur: The Era of Custom DNA | Justin Jones | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
It was hard not to take it as a sign, a personal comment on my own Jewish dating failings.
My Week on Jewish Tinder | Emily Shire | January 5, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
After such an indictment, you would expect the department to do all it could to remedy such failings.
The Cleveland Cops Who Fired 137 Shots and Cried Victim | Michael Daly | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Their collective failings come down to message discipline, candidate selection, and voter targeting.
How the Lame Democrats Blew It | Goldie Taylor | November 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Westerosi political set takes advantage of human weaknesses and failings, hopes and dreams.
Wanted: More Devious Politicians | Nancy Kaffer | October 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Neither mother nor daughter ever uttered one word to each other in reference to the failings of the husband and father.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. Abbott
Two persons will not be friends long if they are not inclined to pardon each others little failings.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre | Jean de La Bruyre
It hurt him to see all the little faults and failings of this divinity brought out by closer proximity.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste Tchaikovsky
He had, however, some serious failings which brought trouble both on his people and himself.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William Hunt
Like every hero the world has ever seen, he had his defects and failings, for it is given to no man to be perfect.
Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh | George W. Foote

British Dictionary definitions for failing

failing

/ (ˈfeɪlɪŋ) /

noun

a weak point; flaw

preposition

(used to express a condition) in default of: failing a solution this afternoon, the problem will have to wait until Monday

Derived forms of failing

failingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse