failed to appear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to appear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone was expected to be present but did not show up, such as in legal situations or events. Example: "The defendant failed to appear in court for the scheduled hearing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Big crowds have failed to appear.

Independent

Around Thanksgiving, the cart failed to appear.

The New York Times

But they failed to appear.

The Guardian - Music

The Republican nominee, George Pataki, failed to appear.

The New Yorker

So far Gibson has failed to appear at court.

The Guardian

But by morning, the body had failed to appear.

The New York Times

The trial was also delayed because witnesses failed to appear.

The New York Times

The Uzans failed to appear for trial in New York.

The New York Times

Two other defendants failed to appear, blaming health problems.

The Guardian

Since then, however, reforms have failed to appear.

The Economist

But prosecutors were soon frustrated when witnesses failed to appear.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or formal situations, "failed to appear" clearly conveys a dereliction of duty or obligation. Use it to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to appear" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "didn't show up" or "wasn't there" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to appear" functions as a predicate in sentences, indicating the absence of a person or thing from an expected location or event. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it often occurs in legal and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to appear" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, particularly in news and formal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. While alternatives like "did not show up" exist for informal settings, "failed to appear" is the preferred choice for maintaining a professional and objective tone when reporting on absences or derelictions of duty. Its frequency in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and suitability for formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not show up

Replaces "failed" with a simpler, more informal expression, focusing on the act of not arriving.

did not attend

A more formal way of saying someone was not present.

was absent

Emphasizes the state of being away or not present, rather than the failure to attend.

was a no-show

An informal idiom indicating someone did not appear as expected.

neglected to arrive

Highlights the act of not coming as a neglect or oversight.

defaulted on appearance

Uses legal terminology, emphasizing a failure to fulfill an obligation.

missed the event

Focuses on the missed opportunity or occasion.

did not materialize

Implies that someone's presence did not become a reality.

remained unseen

Focuses on the lack of visibility or appearance.

was nowhere to be found

Indicates an extensive search or expectation that was unmet.

FAQs

What does "failed to appear" mean?

The phrase "failed to appear" means someone was expected to be somewhere but did not arrive or attend.

How to use "failed to appear" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to appear" in a sentence like: "The defendant "failed to appear" in court, resulting in a warrant for their arrest."

What can I say instead of "failed to appear"?

You can use alternatives like "did not show up", "was absent", or "did not attend" depending on the context.

Is "failed to appear" formal or informal?

"Failed to appear" is generally considered a formal phrase, often used in legal, news, and official contexts. In informal situations, using phrases like "didn't show up" is more appropriate.