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

The California Attorney General’s Office, in a statement, said it was disappointed by the decision and reviewing the opinion from the judges. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026

The year’s most discussable film is finally in theaters and its many bizarre surprises don’t disappoint. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Almost every voter — 11 out of 12 — said they were disappointed with the overall job Trump has been doing. — Ashley Lopez, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026

The company's revenue for the period also disappointed, coming in below Wall Street's estimates. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 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