fail-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: cause to not succeed, fall short of a goal

Commentary: Syntax Includes: NP FAIL [predicate] NP1[agent] FAIL NP2 Either the agent is aware of the intended goal, or someone describing the failed goal was expecting it (as in the case of predicted events specified by a theory)

Examples:
Why is the public school system failing?
Her confidence failed her at the audition and she didn't get the job.
Try as I would, I failed to understand the poetry of Ezra Pound.
That math professor failed his whole class.
John never studied the material and so he failed the class.
She failed to be a good daughter to him.

Mappings:
VerbNet: neglect-75-1,succeed-74-3-1
FrameNet: Success_or_failure,Successful_action
PropBank: fail.01,fail.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8

Sense Number 2: give out, (become bankrupt and) stop functioning

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1 FAIL[intransitive] (PP)

Examples:
The engines failed during take-off.
Three banks failed in our state last month.
The water supply for the town failed after a long drought.
Her grandfather's health is failing.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4, 9, 10, 11

Sense Number 3: forget or neglect to do something

Commentary:
NOTE: Implies the agent forgot to perform the action.

Examples:
She failed to turn the heat down while stirring the pudding.
I failed to leave the key under the mat for the cleaning lady.

Mappings:
VerbNet: neglect-75-1,succeed-74-3-1
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1