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

• cheat
• dissatisfy
• fail
• let down

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

This is a great NBA matchup that will not disappoint; make sure to tune in and catch all the action. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025

However, any modern-day alchemist hoping to cash in might be disappointed. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 13 May 2025

Holding the iPhone 17 Air will likely be just as astonishing, but get ready to be disappointed with its battery stats. —Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 13 May 2025

The Seleção was beaten by Croatia in the quarterfinals of the last World Cup in 2022, a tournament won by rival Argentina, and also disappointed in last year’s Copa América after being knocked out by Uruguay in the quarterfinal stage. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 12 May 2025

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