failing

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A weakness or fault in someone's character or ability, usually a small one.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or in the plural: a failing, his failings.

   Patterns

   • a failing in someone
   • someone's failings

   His main failing is that he never listens to advice.

   Despite her failings, she is a loyal friend.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Not succeeding or becoming weaker, such as a business, a grade, or health.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: a failing business, failing health. Not usually after a verb.

   Patterns

   • failing business
   • failing health
   • failing grade

   The company was sold after several failing years.

   He received a failing grade in math.

3. 3preposition

   If something does not happen or is not available, then instead.

   Grammar: Used at the start of a phrase: Failing that, ... It introduces an alternative.

   Patterns

   • failing that
   • failing which

   You can call her. Failing that, send an email.

   We should leave now. Failing that, we'll miss the train.

Word forms

Common combinations

a failing in someone

Laziness is a failing in many students.

failing health

He retired due to failing health.

failing that

Try the main entrance. Failing that, use the side door.

Synonyms and how they differ

fault

Fault is a more general word for a mistake or responsibility; failing often suggests a personal weakness in character.

weakness

Weakness can refer to physical or moral lack; failing is usually a minor character flaw.

Opposites

Word family

fail verb

To not succeed or to not do something expected.

failure noun

A lack of success, or a person or thing that does not succeed.

Commonly confused: failing or failing?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “failing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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