fail to abide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to abide" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when referring to someone not following a rule, law, contract, or agreement. For example, "The tenant failed to abide by the terms of the lease agreement and was evicted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

But scores of schools, year in and year out, still fail to abide by the law.

The New York Times - Sports

If departments fail to abide by the new rules they could face a series of penalties.

The Guardian

Brazilians must explain themselves if they fail to abide by an obligation to vote.

The New York Times

Stiff fines have been imposed against foreigners who fail to abide by North Korea's rules while on the tour.

The New York Times

He defended his plan for withdrawing from most of the Gaza Strip as necessary for Israel's security should the Palestinians fail to abide by the peace plan.

The New York Times

Instead, they complain that many butchers fail to abide even by Islam's own strictures: that the animal should not be mistreated, and should not see or hear other animals being killed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

If China fails to abide by W.T.O.

The New York Times

Since 1988 successive Pakistani governments have failed to abide by agreements signed with the IMF.

The Economist

All in all, Iraq has failed to abide by 16 U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The New York Times

Mr Sharif and Miss Bhutto failed to abide by the programmes and brought the economy to the brink of default.

The Economist

A spokesman for the P.D.P. said the dissidents had failed to abide by party rules in presenting their grievances.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail to abide", ensure the subject is clearly defined and the specific rule, law, or agreement being violated is explicitly stated.

Common error

Avoid using "fail to abide" without specifying what is being disobeyed. For instance, instead of saying "The company failed to abide", specify "The company failed to abide by the environmental regulations."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to abide" functions as a verb phrase indicating non-compliance or a lack of adherence to a specific rule, law, or agreement. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates not following, respecting, or obeying a commitment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fail to abide" is a versatile and commonly used expression signifying a lack of compliance with rules, laws, or agreements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts. It is especially frequent in news and media, science and formal/business contexts. When using the phrase, it's crucial to clearly specify what is being disobeyed to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "neglect to comply" or "omit to fulfill" can add nuance depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neglect to comply

Uses "neglect" which suggests unintentional failure, and "comply" which is a more formal synonym for abide.

omit to fulfill

"Omit" implies leaving something out, while "fulfill" suggests not completing a required action.

decline to adhere

"Decline" suggests a deliberate choice not to follow, and "adhere" is a more formal synonym for abide.

disregard the regulations

Focuses on the act of ignoring rules or regulations, emphasizing a lack of attention.

contravene the provisions

Uses "contravene" which indicates a direct violation, and "provisions" which refers to specific terms.

violate the terms

Highlights a breach or transgression of agreed-upon conditions.

fall short of expectations

Emphasizes a failure to meet required standards or anticipated outcomes.

be remiss in observing

"Remiss" suggests negligence or carelessness in following guidelines, and "observing" implies paying attention to them.

be in breach of

Directly states a violation of an agreement or obligation.

fly in the face of

Figuratively indicates direct opposition to or disregard for established norms.

FAQs

What does "fail to abide" mean?

To "fail to abide" means to not follow, respect, or obey a rule, law, agreement, or commitment.

How to use "fail to abide" in a sentence?

You can use "fail to abide" to describe someone's non-compliance, such as "The company "failed to abide" by the safety regulations."

What can I say instead of "fail to abide"?

You can use alternatives like "neglect to comply", "omit to fulfill", or "decline to adhere" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "fail to abide by" or "fail to abide with"?

"Fail to abide by" is the correct and more commonly used form. "Abide" is typically followed by "by" when referring to rules or laws.