The difference between Fail and Succeed

When used as verbs, fail means to be unsuccessful, whereas succeed means to follow in order.


Fail is also noun with the meaning: poor quality.

Fail is also adjective with the meaning: that is a failure.

check bellow for the other definitions of Fail and Succeed

  1. Fail as a verb (intransitive):

    To be unsuccessful.

    Examples:

    "Throughout my life, I have always failed."

  2. Fail as a verb (transitive):

    Not to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.)

    Examples:

    "The truck failed to start."

  3. Fail as a verb (transitive):

    To neglect.

    Examples:

    "The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors."

  4. Fail as a verb (intransitive, of a machine, etc.):

    To cease to operate correctly.

    Examples:

    "After running five minutes, the engine failed."

  5. Fail as a verb (transitive):

    To be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert.

  6. Fail as a verb (ambitransitive):

    To receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.

    Examples:

    "I failed English last year."

    "I failed in English last year."

  7. Fail as a verb (transitive):

    To give a student a non-passing grade in an academic endeavour.

    Examples:

    "The professor failed me because I did not complete any of the course assignments."

  8. Fail as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To miss attaining; to lose.

  9. Fail as a verb:

    To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence.

    Examples:

    "The crops failed last year."

  10. Fail as a verb (archaic):

    To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; used with of.

  11. Fail as a verb (archaic):

    To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.

  12. Fail as a verb (archaic):

    To deteriorate in respect to vigour, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker.

    Examples:

    "A sick man fails."

  13. Fail as a verb (obsolete):

    To perish; to die; used of a person.

  14. Fail as a verb (obsolete):

    To err in judgment; to be mistaken.

  15. Fail as a verb:

    To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.

  1. Fail as a noun (uncountable, slang):

    Poor quality; substandard workmanship.

    Examples:

    "The project was full of fail."

  2. Fail as a noun (slang):

    A failure

  3. Fail as a noun (slang, US):

    A failure

  4. Fail as a noun:

    A failure, especially of a financial transaction .

  5. Fail as a noun:

    A failing grade in an academic examination.

  1. Fail as an adjective (slang, US):

    That is a failure.

  1. Fail as a noun:

    A piece of turf cut from grassland.

  1. Succeed as a verb:

    To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of.

    Examples:

    "The king's eldest son succeeds his father on the throne."

    "Autumn succeeds summer."

  2. Succeed as a verb:

    To obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful.

    Examples:

    "The persecution of any righteous practice has never succeeded in the face of history; in fact, it can expedite the collapse of the persecutory regime."

  3. Succeed as a verb (obsolete, rare):

    To fall heir to; to inherit.

    Examples:

    "So, if the issue of the elder son succeed before the younger, I am king."

  4. Succeed as a verb:

    To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue.

  5. Succeed as a verb:

    To support; to prosper; to promote.

  6. Succeed as a verb:

    To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things; to follow; hence, to come next in the possession of anything; -- often with to. To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant.

  7. Succeed as a verb:

    To descend, as an estate or an heirloom, in the same family; to devolve.

  8. Succeed as a verb:

    To go under cover.