failed
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of failed
First recorded in 1650–60; fail ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
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.
Neymar brought profile and panache to Paris but could not deliver the holy grail of European success, Denilson's trickery failed to help Real Betis beat the drop, a car crash curtailed Gigi Lentini's buccaneering brilliance.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
The DOJ claims that DC Water failed to repair the 54-mile pipe, known as the Potomac Interceptor, despite inspections that found corrosion years earlier.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
Earlier talks between the U.S. and Iran failed to result in a deal, and events over the weekend have elevated the uncertainty.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
Díaz failed to get an out in the Dodgers’ 9-6 loss in a non-save situation Sunday to the Colorado Rockies, his first appearance in nine days.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
Every day something else failed to make sense, something else grew too heavy.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
