failing

Failing refers to the lack of success in achieving a goal or meeting a standard. It can describe a process (to fail) or a state (a failure). The meaning of failure is often context-dependent and can vary with criteria, expectations, and the stakes involved.

In education, failing usually means not reaching a minimum passing standard on an exam or course. Academic systems establish thresholds to determine progression, and repeated underperformance can lead to remedies such as retakes, remediation, or probation.

In engineering and technology, failure denotes when a component or system ceases to perform its intended function. Causes include design flaws, material fatigue, overloading, wear, or erroneous operating conditions. Failure analysis and reliability engineering aim to understand causes and prevent recurrence.

In business and project contexts, failure occurs when objectives are unmet, budgets are exceeded, or timelines are missed. Organizations use post-mortems, risk assessment, and lessons learned to improve planning and execution.

Culturally, failure can carry stigma, but many approaches encourage viewing failure as feedback and a source of learning. Emphasizing resilience, iteration, and safe experimentation supports growth and reduces fear of trying again.