failed to exploit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to exploit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing missed opportunities or not taking advantage of a situation or resource. Example: "The company failed to exploit the potential of the new technology, resulting in lost market share."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Both teams failed to exploit scoring chances in the fifth.

The New York Times - Sports

And yet it failed to exploit that lead.

The Guardian - Tech

Frustratingly, over the past two albums, he's failed to exploit that freedom.

Independent

France failed to exploit Hernandez's absence at full-back, almost seeking him out at fly-half.

The Guardian - Sport

In this competition he showed only a slight rustiness, and his opponents failed to exploit it.

The New York Times

Historians have long debated why the Chinese so signally failed to exploit their early promise.

The New York Times

France has distinct advantages in size and height but failed to exploit either until late in the second half.

The New York Times - Sports

He scored 5 points in eight minutes Thursday but failed to exploit a significant size advantage against Belmont's frontcourt.

The New York Times - Sports

For all these years, the county has failed to exploit its most famous resident as fully as it might.

The New York Times

'It has lots of loyal customers it has failed to exploit over the years due to serial management failure.

The Guardian - Business

2. Christie is estimated to weigh 350lb (24 stone), but his opponents have failed to exploit his obesity.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs if "failed to exploit" feels too passive. Options include "squandered", "neglected", or "overlooked", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to exploit" when the missed opportunity was minor or inconsequential. Reserve it for situations where the failure had a significant impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to exploit" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the omission or inability to leverage an available resource, opportunity or advantage. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to exploit" is a versatile and common verb phrase used to describe missed opportunities or the inability to leverage available resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When using this phrase, consider the context and the potential impact of the missed opportunity. For more formal writing, alternatives such as "neglected to capitalize on" may be considered. However, "failed to exploit" remains a clear and effective way to convey the idea of a missed chance for gain or advantage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not take advantage of

A simple and common alternative conveying a lack of utilization.

failed to leverage

Similar in meaning, but focuses on not using something for maximum gain.

did not capitalize on

A more direct way of saying the opportunity was not taken.

neglected to capitalize on

Focuses on the active failure to take advantage of a situation.

missed the opportunity to leverage

Emphasizes the lost chance to use something to advantage.

overlooked the chance to use

Highlights that the opportunity was not only missed, but also possibly ignored.

passed up the chance to harness

Suggests a more forceful or controlled type of missed opportunity.

did not maximize

Focuses on not achieving the highest possible outcome from a situation.

squandered the opportunity to utilize

Implies a wasteful failure to use something.

left untapped

Highlights the resource or opportunity remaining unused.

FAQs

What does "failed to exploit" mean?

The phrase "failed to exploit" means someone or something did not take advantage of an opportunity, resource, or situation that could have been used for benefit or gain.

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

You can use alternatives like "did not capitalize on", "missed the opportunity to leverage", or "did not take advantage of" depending on the context.

How can I use "failed to exploit" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to exploit" to describe a missed opportunity. For example, "The company "failed to capitalize" on the new technology, resulting in lost market share."

Is "failed to exploit" formal or informal?

"Failed to exploit" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or academic writing, consider alternatives like "neglected to capitalize on" for added precision.