Failed vs We all lost

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Failed

Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective

We all lost

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Failed
 FailedWe all lost
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/feɪld/"]/🇺🇸 /["/feɪld/"]/🇬🇧 //wiː ɔːl lɒst//🇺🇸 //wi ɔl lɔst//
Meaningnot successfulWe didn't win or have something anymore.
Examplea failed writerAfter the game, we all lost and felt disappointed.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsfailed attempt, failed experiment, failed project, failed to meet, failed gradeswe all lost faith, we all lost track, we all lost interest
Antonymssucceeded, achieved, triumphed-
Common mistakesConfusing 'failed' with 'fail' (incorrect verb tense), Using 'failed' with the wrong object (e.g., 'failed the test' instead of 'failed in the test'), Overusing it in informal contexts where lighter terms would be more appropriateConfused with 'we all lost out' which implies missing an opportunity., Using it incorrectly in a positive context, e.g., to describe teamwork success.
Usage notesUse 'failed' to describe attempts that did not succeed. It's neutral and can be used in various contexts, from academic to casual conversations.Use in contexts where talking about failure or missing something. It's appropriate for both casual and formal situations.

See it in real clips

Failed
We all lost

Frequently asked questions: Failed vs We all lost

What's the difference between Failed and We all lost?

Failed: not successful We all lost: We didn't win or have something anymore.

Which is more common: Failed and We all lost?

Failed is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Failed: a failed writer We all lost: After the game, we all lost and felt disappointed.

Can I use Failed and We all lost interchangeably?

Not always. Failed and We all lost are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.