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

Strangely, there was an aspect of getting used to it and expecting to be disappointed. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026

They’re disappointed right now. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026

The rooms Rooms range in size from 400 all the way up to 1,000 square feet, and as such, never disappoint in terms of space. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026

Jess Park Given Toone’s absence, Park will be disappointed not to be handed a start against Spain or Iceland, with Kendall and Blindkilde Brown handed opportunities to impress. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 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