disappoint

verb

dis·​ap·​point ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint 

disappointed; disappointing; disappoints

transitive verb

: to fail to meet the expectation or hope of : frustrate

the team disappointed its fans

He disappointed his parents with his decision.

intransitive verb

: to fail to meet a hope or expectation : to cause disappointment

where the show disappoints most is in the work of the younger generation

—John Ashbery

Synonyms

• cheat
• dissatisfy
• fail
• let down

Examples of disappoint in a Sentence

The team disappointed its fans.

The show may disappoint some viewers.

The novel disappoints by being predictable and overly long.

Recent Examples on the Web

People who were divorced, tired, in debt, ill fed, disappointed with their own choices. —Samanta Schweblin, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025

Mara didn’t disappoint in his career-high 30 minutes inside Alaska Airlines Arena, dominating on both ends during UCLA’s 65-60 victory over Washington. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025

Those looking for gore or jump scares will be disappointed but those looking for a smart, effective thriller will be rewarded. —Jenelle Riley, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025

Conversely, if the numbers disappoint, the stock can easily gap down. —Adam Sarhan, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English disapointen to dispossess, from Middle French desapointer, from des- dis- + appointer to arrange — more at appoint

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

disappoint

verb

dis·​ap·​point ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint 

: to fail to meet the expectation or hope of

the team disappointed its fans