without fail

idiom

1
used to stress that something always happens
Every day, without fail, he has toast and coffee for breakfast.
2
used to stress that something will definitely happen
She promised that she would be there without fail.

Examples of without fail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web My initial reaction to the fall arts season, every autumn, without fail, scanning the great harvest about to drop in Chicago’s movie theaters, art galleries and concert halls, is to feel excitedly overwhelmed. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2024 The rule has observed without fail that when the unemployment rate over a three-month period averages half a percentage point higher than the 12-month low, the economy is in recession. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2024 Every January and February (without fail!), my libido hits a bit of a lull. Charlotte Lewis, refinery29.com, 9 Feb. 2024 At the same time, true leaders are the ones who also have the distinct responsibility of sharing the stories of the heroic efforts of the women and men who take charge and follow orders without fail and often with limited direction. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2024 The piece describes the surprisingly predictable hours the longtime best friends and business partners keep, with each showing up to 58-year-old father of five Reznor’s backyard L.A. studio Monday through Friday to work on their various ventures from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. without fail. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024 In fact, the New Kids on the Block singer still sends her flowers every week, without fail. Gillian Telling, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 Kristen Stewart’s recent sartorial choices have included–without fail–a glimpse of an erogenous zone or two, by way of some form of lingerie. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024 Dean hadn't heard from his younger brother Ray in two days – highly unusual for brothers who spoke every day without fail. Natalie Morales, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'without fail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near without fail

Cite this Entry

“Without fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/without%20fail. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.

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