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

Instead, after entering the third period tied, the Wild got absolutely dominated by the Pittsburgh Penguins to once again disappoint the frustrated home crowd during what has been a miserable start to this 2025-26 campaign. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025

And Bowen Yang didn't disappoint. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025

On the other hand, a small minority were disappointed with the reaction from parents. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

Sprouts Farmers Market — Shares plunged more than 22% after the natural and organic grocery chain reported third-quarter same-store sales and revenue that disappointed estimates compiled by FactSet. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Oct. 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