fail
verb (used without object)
to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved.
is failing
-
present progressiveof fail (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
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.
The United Kingdom’s response to a similar spike in ectopic deaths during the pandemic shows just how much the U.S. is failing to do.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Yet we also want treatment options that are sustainably affordable and accessible to everyone — and that is where our current system is failing us.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Mattel said that Wall Street is failing to credit its progress: “We are focused on execution,” Chief Executive Ynon Kreiz said in an interview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
While she is "very glad" the free at the point of use NHS exists, she believes it is failing to deliver.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
“His long-term memory is still impressive. It’s the short-term memory that is failing him. And he gets crabby sometimes. But all in all, he’s still doing pretty good.”
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
