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Synonyms

fall short of

Idioms  
  1. Prove inadequate or insufficient. For example, His skills fell short of the required standard. [Late 1500s]


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.

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Pitcher Tyler Glasnow runs into trouble early and the Dodgers fall short of a comeback in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Miami Marlins.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 13, 2026

Joe Boyle, secretary of the group, said current provisions "still fall short of an acceptable structure for the third tier of government in Northern Ireland".

From BBC Aug. 13, 2026

Many condo associations likely fall short of this requirement.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 9, 2026

Oxford estimates car sales will taper off soon and fall short of the 16 million mark in 2026, compared with 16.2 million new vehicles sold in 2025.

From MarketWatch Aug. 4, 2026

I crouch down in the dirt against one of the big boulders as the light sweeps by again, but the edges of the bright beam fall short of me.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

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