Unsuccessful means not achieving what you set out to do. When an experiment is unsuccessful, it doesn't produce the results you hoped for. When a basketball team has an unsuccessful season, they lose more games than they win. When you make an unsuccessful attempt to fix your bike, it's still broken when you're done.

The word describes efforts that don't work out, plans that fall through, or goals that remain unmet. An unsuccessful business closes its doors. An unsuccessful audition means you didn't get the part. An unsuccessful fishing trip means you came home without any fish.

Notice that unsuccessful doesn't mean you didn't try hard or do your best. Many unsuccessful attempts involve tremendous effort and skill. Thomas Edison made thousands of unsuccessful attempts before creating a working light bulb. Scientists conduct unsuccessful experiments all the time, learning valuable lessons from each one. A student might study diligently but still have an unsuccessful result on a difficult test.

Being unsuccessful at something isn't the end of the story. It's just one step in a longer journey.