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.
"Clearly it was failing to compete in the premium market, they've had to completely reinvent it, take it luxury and electric and that is a big gamble."
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
The recommendations centered on the idea that Syracuse was failing to recruit aggressively enough.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 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
Trainer Carl Nafzger famously described Unbridled’s stretch run to 92-year-old owner Frances Genter, whose eyesight was failing.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2026
Friday evening, when the light was failing and work over johnny took the silver pitcher and his own wax model and left the shop.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
