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

China’s most recent retail sales data also disappointed, missing forecasts. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Dec. 2024

There's no question that Seeger, a longtime champion of Dylan's folkie talent, was disappointed when the star defied Newport Folk Festival programmers by playing a loud if short set with electric instruments. —Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024

Americans hoping Democrats would change their ways in the new year may be disappointed. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Dec. 2024

And now as millions more users look forward to installing the beta over the next few weeks, they could be disappointed. —Zak Doffman, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

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