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 title game didn’t disappoint in that regard. —Tim Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

Some of the streamer’s viewers, used to his more aggressive antics, were disappointed by the relative lack of excitement. —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026

And Garland, who came to the Clippers from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for James Harden, didn’t disappoint the home crowd. —Janis Carr, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026

Plant a Lot of Corn Corn needs a big garden or else you will be disappointed, Pabst warns. —Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 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