fall short of

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But health officials say the full extent of the outbreak is still unclear, with international authorities warning that the reported figures likely fall short of the true number of cases.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Cepeda, though, is likely to fall short of the 50% needed to win outright, triggering a high-stakes runoff on June 21—with some polls showing he would win and upend Colombian history.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

“With just two months until kickoff, indicators suggest the anticipated economic lift may fall short of expectations,” the report said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

Their proposals also fall short of an Australia-style ban on social media for the under-16s, he added.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

In the years that followed, I failed her so many times, each time asserting my own will, my right to fall short of expectations.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan