fail
verb (used without object)
to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved.
was failing
-
past progressiveof fail.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
In an interview in February 2025, Bonino said her body was failing her and she was paying a physical price for having used it "as a political weapon" for decades.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
Another issue identified by the investigation was that no fail-safe system - involving valve position indicators and gas pressure sensors - had been installed to alert the crew that the valve was failing.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
While his body was failing, his imagination intensified.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
In April, EU regulators found Meta was failing to keep under-13s off its Facebook and Instagram platforms in breach of the bloc's digital content rules.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
This was my first test, and somehow, I was failing.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
