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

• cheat
• dissatisfy
• fail
• let down

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

For instance, Republicans are wading into a complex and divisive budget debate that has fractured the party and is forcing them to make tough choices, some of which are sure to disappoint voters. —Annie Karni, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

Princeton has disappointed despite returning its two best players plus a third starter, while injuries have stunted Brown’s and Columbia’s prospects. —Jim Root, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025

What does disappoint is the story's initial, glacial, pace. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025

Any version of a 50th anniversary special would likely disappoint in some way; there's just too much history here to get in everything everyone wants to see. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 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

Kids Definition

disappoint

verb

dis·​ap·​point ˌdis-ə-ˈpȯint 

: to fail to meet the expectation or hope of

the team disappointed its fans