[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/failure.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / failure

[← F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/F/)

# failure

«failure» in Mova's school dictionary: **not succeeding at something you tried to do** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a failure, failures; failure, uncountable)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Failure is not succeeding at something you tried to do. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#m1)

2) A failure is an attempt, plan or thing that did not work. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#m2)

3) A failure of a machine or body part is when it stops working, like a power failure. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#m3)

4) Failure to do something means not doing it when you should. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

In school and stories, failure is part of learning: scientists and inventors fail many times before they succeed. In everyday life a power failure means the lights go out. Phrases: «learn from failure», «end in failure», «a power failure», «failure to follow the rules».

### examples

- Every failure taught the inventor something new. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#x1)
- Our first rocket was a failure, but the second one flew. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#x2)
- Don't be afraid of failure; just try. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#x3)
- The lights went out because of a power failure. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#x4)
- The plan ended in failure. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#x5)
- Engine failure made the plane land early. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#x6)
- Failure to wear a helmet can be dangerous. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#x7)
- But the spider did not lose hope with the sixth failure. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/#x8)

### note

Countable or uncountable. Verb: «fail». Calling a person «a failure» is unkind and untrue: one failed try does not make someone a failure. Science calls a failed test a result too; it tells you something.

### In the corpora

- [Crossing out and rewriting are a normal part of writing, not a sign of failure.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/43-editing-and-redrafting/9/)
- ["A learning opportunity" is spin for a failure or a mistake.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/16-school-reports/23/)
- [Schools soften bad news about trouble and failure, and families soften bad news about pets.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/17-school-and-pets/0/)
- ["Deferred success" is a joking UK phrase for failure.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/17-school-and-pets/9/)
- ["A learning experience" often means an expensive failure.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/23-fees-bugs-and-spin/14/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «failure» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/failure/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.