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

• 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

After constantly being denied access to his owner's bed, one dog finally received the green light for a one-time chance, and his reaction did not disappoint. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025

Native Ukrainians disappointed after no deal was reached Trump and Putin's high stakes summit Ukrainian-American Volodymyr Valchuk expressed disappointment in the lack of progress from the Trump-Putin summit regarding the war in Ukraine. —Terry Collins, USA Today, 16 Aug. 2025

Just last month, McLaurin told reporters he was disappointed with how contract talks had progressed. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025

Was he disappointed that there was still no resolution? —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 15 Aug. 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

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