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

But as avid swimmers, we were disappointed with the puny indoor pool, which couldn’t have been more than 10 meters long. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Fifth Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson, who prosecuted the case, told Fox News Digital he was disappointed by the outcome. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

The stock has been disappointing this year, but it's been able to string together a few positive weeks in a row, pushing shares from around $73 in mid-May to $78 today. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 2 June 2026

At the time, the artist commented that he was disappointed the hungry museumgoer had not eaten the tape and all. —Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 1 June 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