disappoint
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of.
His gross ingratitude disappointed us.
- Synonyms:
- disenchant, dishearten, disillusion, sadden
-
to defeat the fulfillment of (hopes, plans, etc.); thwart; frustrate.
to be disappointed in love.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to fail to meet the expectations, hopes, desires, or standards of; let down
-
to prevent the fulfilment of (a plan, intention, etc); frustrate; thwart
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
disappointsimple
-
disappointssimple
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have disappointedperfect
-
has disappointedperfect
-
am disappointingprogressive
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are disappointingprogressive
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is disappointingprogressive
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have been disappointingperfect progressive
-
has been disappointingperfect progressive
Past
-
disappointedsimple
-
had disappointedperfect
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was disappointingprogressive
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were disappointingprogressive
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had been disappointingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of disappoint
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Middle French word desappointer. See dis- 1, appoint
Explanation
When you fail to meet people's expectations, you disappoint them. You can also disappoint yourself or find that things let you down, like a rainy trip to the beach that disappoints you. The word disappoint comes from the Middle French word desappointer, which meant "dispossess of appointed office," in the 14th century. Today, disappoint can apply to anyone or anything that does not achieve the expected results — and ways to express that we are disappointed go beyond firing people or kicking them out of office. For example, if you buy a product that disappoints, you won't buy it again.
Vocabulary lists containing disappoint
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 4
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"The Fun They Had"
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Shiloh
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
To disappoint investors just a few weeks after its $29 billion listing of depositary receipts on Nasdaq demonstrated poor “communication and messaging,” he wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
That might disappoint "social first" Burnham, who's made it clear he plans to court content creators to help get his message out.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
The lack of upward movement is likely to disappoint Wall Street, Zafar says, given the company’s long history of beating and raising expectations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
And though the investment may disappoint, it’s a critical reminder that studios, even independent ones, will always prioritize their bottom line over the consumer’s interest.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
I don’t care if my name might disappoint someone, or if my face might disappoint someone’s parents.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
AES stock falls as $15-a-share offer disappoints shareholders.
From Barron's ● Mar. 2, 2026
"I wouldn't want to be a baker who disappoints her, but I can see her being very encouraging at the same time."
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026
A mixed bag of eye-catching imagery and formulaic writing, “Goat” disappoints because it follows every expected path toward a triumphant conclusion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026
It works well enough at first but soon disappoints or wears out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
And while I once thought what I wanted from her was this normal, everyday tone, now that I have it, the normalcy disappoints.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
Quintero’s lawyer, Cameron Talley, said he respected the verdict even if he was disappointed by it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
"I don't think they'd want to have me disappointed."
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Men aren’t the only ones disappointed in the president’s performance.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026
"I am disappointed with the other findings and do not accept them."
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Zheng wasn’t sure whether to be happy or disappointed that Razi and Shifa were on the trail of the dagger.
From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook
Towards the end of last season's disappointing campaign, when they finished 10th and won nothing, Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali said their recruitment model needed a "tweak".
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
The drug-price rebates adopted by Germany in its recently passed healthcare reform were disappointing, Soriot says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
"That Paris 2024 Olympics exit was disappointing but it was an eye-opener," says Lamboria.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
“So obviously that’s disappointing because you throw a bullpen to continue to build up. So that was disappointing. But as far as worry, concern, we don’t have any of that.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
I must admit, it was a little disappointing to find out that the snake wasn’t poisonous.
From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
