failed for now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed for now" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not succeeded at the present time but may succeed in the future. Example: "The project has failed for now, but we will regroup and try again next quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But similar suits in Florida and Wisconsin have failed for now.

The New York Times

4. Why does the Yasuni-ITT Initiative appear to have failed, for now at least?

The Guardian

"After the cancellation, we thought our attempt to educate the Chinese public had failed for now," Ben Zhang, an organizer of Mr. Gay China, said Friday in a telephone interview.

The New York Times

Just over one week after the Village of Hempstead unanimously passed a so-called living wage law, some of its officials tried to repeal it, although they failed for now.

The New York Times

We know we dress like idiots and we know, as the play's characters do, that when they're talking about Aerosmith's disappointments as the play's characters do, they're also talking about our own failed (for now) potential if we refuse to be more than wittily, babblingly, unsubstantially uncommunicative.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

What helped form (the failed-for-now) state health care legislation?

The New York Times

It has failed for four years now.

The Guardian - Opinion

But that approach has failed for two years now, and he needs to jump up and down and start screaming.

The New York Times

That approach has failed for a decade now, since the president's father set up the first voluntary program".

The New York Times

Contrary to the tired old policy Marco Rubio favors -- the one that's failed for 50 years now -- most Americans are looking forward to ending this last vestige of the Cold War".

Huffington Post

This is another story (see "Failed" for details); but for now we can just say it was not a case of the neoliberal reforms of yesteryear finally working their delayed magic.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failed for now" to convey that a situation or attempt hasn't been successful so far, but there is still potential for future success. This nuanced phrasing avoids finality and maintains a sense of hope or possibility.

Common error

While "failed for now" is acceptable in many contexts, overuse in formal writing can weaken your message. In formal reports, prefer alternatives that sound more professional, such as "temporarily unsuccessful" or "currently not viable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed for now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a temporary state of failure. Ludwig examples confirm that it introduces a nuance of potential future success.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed for now" is a grammatically sound and meaningful expression used to describe situations where something has not succeeded yet, but still has the potential to do so in the future. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is valid and frequently appears in news and media outlets. While not always appropriate for formal writing, it serves as a useful tool to avoid finality and convey a sense of possibility. Alternative phrases such as "unsuccessful temporarily" or "not yet successful" can be used depending on the context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuccessful temporarily

Replaces "failed" with a more neutral term and "for now" with a synonym indicating the temporary nature of the failure.

not yet successful

Emphasizes that success hasn't been achieved but doesn't preclude future success.

a setback for the time being

Highlights the temporary nature of the failure as a setback, implying a possible recovery.

on hold for the moment

Suggests the failure is more of a pause or suspension rather than a complete failure.

temporarily thwarted

Implies an active opposition or obstacle that has prevented success, but only temporarily.

out of commission for now

Suggests that something is not working, but it might be repaired or reactivated.

experiencing a temporary setback

Focuses on the experience of a setback, implying a process and potential for improvement.

currently not viable

Indicates that the approach is not feasible at the present time but might become so in the future.

in abeyance

A more formal term indicating a state of temporary inactivity or suspension.

suspended for the present

Directly states that something is temporarily halted.

FAQs

What does "failed for now" mean?

The phrase "failed for now" means that something has not succeeded at the present time, but there is still a possibility of success in the future. It suggests a temporary setback rather than a permanent failure.

How can I use "failed for now" in a sentence?

You can use "failed for now" to describe situations where an attempt or plan has not yet been successful but could be in the future. For example, "The experiment has "failed for now", but we will continue to refine our approach."

What can I say instead of "failed for now"?

You can use alternatives like "unsuccessful temporarily", "not yet successful", or "a setback for the time being" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "failed for now" formal or informal?

The phrase "failed for now" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it is most commonly used in news and media. In more formal academic or business settings, consider using alternatives like "temporarily unsuccessful" or "currently not viable".