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

Kennedy has said he was disappointed by the executive order but sees it as necessary for agricultural stability and national security. —ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026

For couples, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Dunn’s River, and Excellence Oyster Bay won’t disappoint. —Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

Elizabeth, who died in September 2022 at 96, was reportedly deeply hurt and disappointed by the couple's decision but remained publicly supportive of Harry and Meghan. —Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Turner must have been disappointed. —Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 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