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

Wall Street isn’t particularly excited about CagriSema, whose previous late-stage clinical trials disappointed investors because the drug showed weight loss efficacy below expectations. — Annika Kim Constantino,elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

The final New Music Friday of September certainly didn’t disappoint! — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026

Bill author Addis said she was disappointed the bill never received a committee hearing, and plans on reintroducing new safety legislation in the next legislative cycle. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

In an interview Wednesday with The Sacramento Bee, the bill’s author, Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-San Jose, said he was disappointed by the veto but wasn’t surprised. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 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