FAILING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does failing mean? 

• FAILING (noun)
  The noun FAILING has 2 senses:

1. a flaw or weak point

2. failure to reach a minimum required performance

  Familiarity information: FAILING used as a noun is rare.

• FAILING (adjective)
  The adjective FAILING has 1 sense:

1. below acceptable in performance

  Familiarity information: FAILING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FAILING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A flaw or weak point

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

failing; weakness

Context example:

he was quick to point out his wife's failings

Hypernyms ("failing" is a kind of...):

imperfection; imperfectness (the state or an instance of being imperfect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "failing"):

inadequacy; insufficiency (a lack of competence)

fatigue (used of materials (especially metals) in a weakened state caused by long stress)

flaw (defect or weakness in a person's character)

Derivation:

fail (fall short in what is expected)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Failure to reach a minimum required performance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

failing; flunk

Context example:

he got two flunks on his report

Hypernyms ("failing" is a kind of...):

failure (an act that fails)

Antonym:

passing (success in satisfying a test or requirement)

Derivation:

fail (fail to get a passing grade)

fail (judge unacceptable)

• FAILING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Below acceptable in performance

Context example:

received failing grades

Similar:

unsatisfactory (not giving satisfaction)

 Context examples 

Past theories as to why these communities collapsed include a change in climate and a hubristic adherence to failing farming techniques.

(Lost Norse of Greenland fuelled the medieval ivory trade, ancient walrus DNA suggests, University of Cambridge)

But in recent years, queens have been failing more quickly.

(Species Shifts in the Honey Bee Microbiome Differ with Age and Hive Role, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Prenatal exposure to elevated PM2.5 led to a 1.6 to 2.7% higher risk of failing any developmental domain, while higher ozone exposure led to a .7 to 1.7% higher risk of failing a developmental domain.

(Kids living near major roads at higher risk of developmental delays, National Institutes of Health)

Based on their studies in human postmortem brain, they developed a new strain of mice mimicking major features of human Alzheimer’s such as tau pathology, failing synapses, neuronal death and cognitive impairment.

(Compound prevents neurological damage, shows cognitive benefits in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, National Institutes of Health)

In nearly two-thirds of failing heart samples, the researchers found that nitric oxide determined signaling balance to the arrestin pathway.

(Heart Disease Severity May Depend on Nitric Oxide Levels, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

No, there is no danger of my failing in love with Martin Eden.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

You have possibly had other guns in reserve in case there should be several tigers, or in the unlikely supposition of your own aim failing you.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And again, with never-failing wonder, I remarked the total lack of viciousness, or wickedness, or sinfulness in his face.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Hitherto he had ignored her, but now, both masters failing him, she alone was left.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Pride, observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections, is a very common failing, I believe.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)