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

While the company's fiscal first-quarter results beat expectations, its forecast disappointed due to a global memory shortage. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026

My makeup bag is a dumping ground for lip liner stains that have disappointed me, but these have their own special jar. —Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 5 Feb. 2026

As a parent of high schoolers, Laurie Solis is disappointed but not surprised by Abbott and Paxton’s focus on Austin ISD. —Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026

Fullerton players were disappointed, but eventually joyful. —Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 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