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

Everton’s player of the season, who will be disappointed not to have made Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup. —Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Plus, her covers never disappoint. —David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026

The Enhanced Games left Wall Street largely disappointed after its inaugural event over Memorial Day weekend. —Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 26 May 2026

Many of us are also frustrated and disappointed at what is a very unsatisfying outcome. —Gavin Jackson, NPR, 26 May 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