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

Even so, Tapestry disappointed Wall Street with a more conservative holiday-quarter outlook. —Amelia Lucas,melissa Repko,gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025

Defense attorney Sarah Kottke said Wednesday that they were disappointed in the verdict but respected the jury's decision and time. —Phil Helsel, NBC news, 13 Nov. 2025

Our conversation covered good news, like the health system’s recent capital investments, and bad news, like what has disappointed him lately in industry conversations. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025

Bailie Petty, one of the mothers who posted about the investigation on social media, told the Star-Telegram that she is disappointed in how the Godley ISD administration and police department have handled the situation. —Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 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