finally failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finally failed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has ultimately not succeeded after a series of attempts or efforts. Example: "After numerous attempts to fix the old car, it finally failed, leaving us no choice but to buy a new one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

However, they finally failed".

The Guardian

But this week, his footwork finally failed him.

The Economist

It means the voters said the Democrats finally failed".

The New York Times

Now it appears these have finally failed and Mainstream has decided not to release the book.

The Guardian

She finally failed, and the story has surfaced in this week's newspapers.

The Guardian

All the economists we have in the world who believe in capitalism have finally failed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

So when G.M. did finally fail, the fallout was limited.

The New York Times

Who takes the blame for Tyson, or do we wait until his parachute finally fails?

The New York Times - Sports

He is a Tom who peeps and gazes but finally fails to strike home.

The New Yorker

But many wonder if this will be the time they finally fail.

The New York Times

Twenty-eight EU lags on those subject to translate consensus into act and, when it come to money, finally fails.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "finally failed", ensure the context clearly indicates a preceding series of attempts or a prolonged effort that ultimately did not succeed. This emphasizes the culmination of unsuccessful efforts.

Common error

Avoid using "finally failed" in situations where there was no expectation of success or no previous attempt made. The phrase carries an implicit history of striving and unmet expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finally failed" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the completion of an action that resulted in an unsuccessful outcome. The adverb "finally" modifies the verb "failed", emphasizing the culmination of events leading to the failure, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

32%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finally failed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the ultimate lack of success after a period of effort or attempts. As Ludwig AI indicates, it functions as a verb phrase and is suitable for various registers, from neutral to slightly formal. Predominantly featured in "News & Media" and "Science", it effectively conveys a sense of finality and closure regarding an unsuccessful endeavor. When using this phrase, ensure the context implies preceding efforts and avoid using it where no attempt or expectation of success existed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ultimately proved unsuccessful

Replaces "failed" with a more formal synonym and emphasizes the ultimate outcome.

eventually met with failure

Uses "met with failure" to soften the directness of "failed" and emphasizes the eventual nature of the outcome.

resulted in ultimate defeat

Emphasizes the finality of the failure, using "defeat" for a stronger impact.

in the end, did not succeed

Breaks down the phrase into simpler terms, focusing on the lack of success.

collapsed in the final analysis

Implies a breakdown or failure after careful consideration or scrutiny.

reached an unsuccessful conclusion

Highlights the conclusion or outcome of an effort as being unsuccessful.

after all, did not work out

More informal, implying that despite efforts, the intended result was not achieved.

turned out to be a failure

Focuses on the final state or condition as being a failure.

proved to be unsustainable

Suggests the inability to continue or maintain success over time.

was not sustainable long-term

Focuses on the long-term inability to maintain success or viability.

FAQs

How can I use "finally failed" in a sentence?

You can use "finally failed" to indicate that something or someone ultimately did not succeed after a period of attempts or effort. For example: "After numerous attempts to fix the old car, it "finally failed", leaving us no choice but to buy a new one."

What are some alternatives to "finally failed"?

Alternatives include "ultimately failed", "eventually failed", or "proved unsuccessful". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "finally failed"?

While "failed" already implies a lack of success, adding "finally" emphasizes that the failure occurred after a period of time or after multiple attempts. It adds a sense of culmination to the unsuccessful outcome.

What's the difference between "finally failed" and "failed completely"?

"Finally failed" emphasizes the timing and sequence of events leading to failure, while "failed completely" emphasizes the extent or degree of failure. The former suggests a process, while the latter describes the result.