verb · informal

flunk

/flʌŋk/FLUNK

speaking

to fail an exam or to be forced to leave a course because of poor results

Examples

He flunked the chemistry exam and had to retake it.

If she keeps missing classes she might flunk out of the course.

I nearly flunked that test but I managed to pass in the end.

Band 8 sentence

He flunked the final and, as a result, had to repeat the year.

Collocations

  • flunk an exam
  • flunk out of university

Word family

flunk verbflunked verb (past)flunking verb (gerund)flunk out phrasal verb

Common mistakes

He flunked in the exam.He flunked the exam.

She flunked out from the university.She flunked out of the university.

Say it for a higher band

5fail6fail an exam7+flunk

Synonyms

fail

Easily confused

fail

He failed the exam, but he didn't flunk out of the school.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Study

Learn it with its set