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

Not wanting to disappoint, but short on ingredients, Cardini quickly assembled some romaine lettuce, anchovies, breadcrumbs, and some other ingredients. —Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Fabrice Coffrini | Afp | Getty Images Microsoft shares slid about 10% on Thursday following an earnings report that disappointed some investors, prompting the stock’s sharpest daily decline since March 2020. —Jordan Novet, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026

But companies hoping for a Hail Mary may be disappointed. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2026

And these pieces of eel sushi did not disappoint. —Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 28 Jan. 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