ultimately fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ultimately fail" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to ultimately not succeed or be successful in something. Example: Despite his best efforts, John's plan to start a successful business ultimately failed due to financial difficulties.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, I would argue that failing at all of them was what caused Yahoo to ultimately fail.

Huffington Post

But a huge proportion of small businesses ultimately fail.

The New York Times

We may ultimately fail, but we're pretty far ahead of the curve".

The New York Times

"We are confident that efforts to stop these important warnings from going forward will ultimately fail".

The New York Times

Rick Tyler, a spokesman for Cruz, said Rubio's efforts to undermine their campaign would ultimately fail.

The Guardian

With its wealth of scientific talent, he said, "This company cannot ultimately fail".

The New York Times

Whether looking inward or outward, their characters talk a blue streak, but words ultimately fail them.

The New York Times

Most experimental drugs ultimately fail their clinical trials on grounds of safety or effectiveness.

The New York Times

If that belief is not changed, the current wave of corporate reform will ultimately fail.

The New York Times

But should her candidacy ultimately fail, there will be a lot of blame to spread around.

The New York Times

How did this happen, and why did the Soviet Union's attempt to impose totalitarianism on its new empire ultimately fail?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ultimately fail", ensure the context clearly indicates what is failing and why. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "ultimately fail" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language by using synonyms like "eventually prove unsuccessful" or "fall short in the long run" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ultimately fail" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a final lack of success or a negative outcome after a period of time or effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

27%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ultimately fail" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase indicating a final lack of success. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suitability for written English. Its communicative purpose involves expressing a prediction or statement about a negative outcome after some time or effort. While versatile, "ultimately fail" is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what is failing and consider varying your language with synonyms to avoid overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eventually be unsuccessful

Replaces "ultimately fail" with synonyms emphasizing the final lack of success.

in the end not succeed

Highlights the lack of success at the final stage.

prove to be a failure

Shifts the focus to the outcome of being a failure.

fall short in the long run

Emphasizes the long-term aspect of not reaching a desired outcome.

be doomed to disappointment

Suggests an inevitable negative result or lack of fulfillment.

be destined to collapse

Implies a predetermined and unavoidable failure.

come to nothing

Indicates that efforts or plans do not produce any positive result.

be defeated in the end

Highlights the aspect of being overcome or losing after a struggle.

not hold up over time

Suggests that something is unable to withstand the test of time or changing circumstances.

be unable to sustain itself

Highlights a lack of ability to continue or maintain a certain state.

FAQs

How can I use "ultimately fail" in a sentence?

You can use "ultimately fail" to describe the final outcome of something that did not succeed. For example, "Despite their efforts, the project would "ultimately fail" due to lack of funding."

What are some alternatives to "ultimately fail"?

Alternatives to "ultimately fail" include "eventually be unsuccessful", "in the end not succeed", or "fall short in the long run".

Is it redundant to say "ultimately fail"?

While "fail" already implies a lack of success, using "ultimately fail" can emphasize the finality or the long-term nature of the failure. Its use depends on the desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "ultimately fail" and "immediately fail"?

"Ultimately fail" suggests a failure that occurs after some time or effort, whereas "immediately fail" suggests a failure that happens right away. The first emphasizes the end result, the second the timing of the failure.