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 of disappoint

• fail
• cheat
• displease
• upset

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

Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said before the game that some of the team’s younger receivers would have to step up, and Favors certainly didn’t disappoint. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026

That inconsistency is why fresh pumpkin bakes can disappoint even careful cooks. — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Anyone hoping for timely debate over the purpose or efficacy of the criminal justice system is bound to be disappointed. — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Wall Street has not appeared particularly excited about CagriSema, whose previous late-stage clinical trial results disappointed investors because the drug showed weight loss efficacy below their expectations. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for disappoint

• counterpoint
• multipoint
• needlepoint
• reappoint
• adjoint
• anoint
• appoint
• checkpoint
• conjoint
• disjoint
• endpoint
• gunpoint

Kids Definition

disappoint

verb

dis·​ap·​point ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint 

: to fail to meet the expectation or hope of

the team disappointed its fans