- present tense form of fail (3rd person singular).
fails
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.
If the government fails to cover the cost of security in those areas, the city would seek all or a portion of LA28’s contingency funds to make up difference, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The current valuation for the U.K. wealth-management company fails to reflect a coming inflection point in its performance, with an expected EPS compound annual growth rate of 23% from 2026 through 2030, Holstein writes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
This is a thing that begins making its way through Congress and eventually fails.
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
The intro gets blasted at sporting events to raise energy or when something good happens, and it never fails to rally a crowd.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026
If the crop of minute sea vegetation fails, the young shellfish will starve.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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