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

Tom Ayers, 34, was disappointed to find the fences already up on Monday. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Colombia held Ronaldo in check all night Saturday, surely disappointing his legion of fans. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Speaking on a new episode of Taboo's Comics & Kicks, Sweetin, 44, explained that she was disappointed when the twins — who appeared in all eight seasons of Full House — passed on the Netflix reboot of the hit '90s show. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

Danielle Russell, vice president of the KC Blue Crew supporters, is disappointed about that element of the team’s latest project. — Pj Green july 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 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