Definitions for failing

• Definition
• Anagrams (120)

failing fail·ing

Spelling: [fey-ling]

IPA: /ˈfeɪ lɪŋ/

Failing is a 7 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 11 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 14 points.

You can make 120 anagrams from letters in failing (afgiiln).

Definitions for failing

noun

1. an act or instance of failing; failure:
2. a defect or fault; shortcoming; weakness:
3. Slang. an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc., that is subject to ridicule and given an exaggerated importance: the condition or quality resulting from having failed in this way: a person who fails in this way.
4. Stock Exchange. a stockbroker's inability to deliver or receive security within the required time after sale or purchase. such an undelivered security.
5. Obsolete. failure as to performance, occurrence, etc.

Idioms

1. without fail, with certainty; positively:

adjective

1. unsuccessful; failed:
2. Slang. of or noting an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc.: embarrassingly incompetent, stupid, etc: very bad or of inferior quality.

preposition

1. in the absence or default of:

interjection

1. Slang. (used to mock an embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc., giving it an exaggerated importance): (used to indicate that something is bad or of inferior quality)

verb (used with object)

1. to be unsuccessful in the performance or completion of:
2. (of some expected or usual resource) to prove of no use or help to:
3. to receive less than a passing grade or mark in:
4. to declare (a person) unsuccessful in a test, course of study, etc.; give less than a passing grade to:

verb (used without object)

1. to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved:
2. to receive less than the passing grade or mark in an examination, class, or course of study:
3. to be or become deficient or lacking; be insufficient or absent; fall short:
4. to dwindle, pass, or die away:
5. to lose strength or vigor; become weak:
6. to become unable to meet or pay debts or business obligations; become insolvent or bankrupt.
7. (of a building member, structure, machine part, etc.) to break, bend, crush, or be otherwise destroyed or made useless because of an excessive load.
8. to stop functioning or operating:
9. Slang. to make an embarrassing or humorous mistake, be in a humiliating situation, etc., and be subject to ridicule: to be embarrassingly incompetent, stupid, etc.: to be bad or of inferior quality:

Origin of failing

Middle English word dating back to 1250-1300; See origin at fail, -ing¹

Examples for failing

He beat his illness twice, wrote about his battles with the disease, and continued broadcasting even as his health was failing.

We visited him at Winchester, and found him sorely old and with failing wits.

Since we cannot reach all of them this week, we must try to reach seven; and failing in that, suppose we say one?

Annie Lee Cooper, well played by Winfrey, is shown trying but failing to register to vote.

She's been failing all along, you know, and she has just cried herself down.

So by failing, I go audition for Any Given Sunday [and] things turn out right.

But failing that, he advised pro-immigration reform Republican candidates such as former Gov. Jeb Bush to just skip the state.

Wotan's heart ached at the thought of failing this friend he loved so well.

They recorded 10,549 graves on or near the railway in 144 cemeteries, failing to locate only 52 graves.

She is the daughter of an old and failing man, whose days are near their close.