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
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have disappointedperfect
-
has disappointedperfect 3rd person singular
-
am disappointingprogressive 1st person singular
-
is disappointingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are disappointingprogressive
-
has been disappointingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
have been disappointingperfect progressive
-
disappointingparticiple
-
disappointssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had disappointedperfect
-
had been disappointingperfect progressive
-
was disappointingprogressive singular
-
were disappointingprogressive plural
-
disappointedparticiple
-
disappointedsimple
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Fun They Had"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Shiloh
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“We never want to disappoint our fans, and we know many of you will have made plans to attend this evening’s concert.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
That multiple leaves little room for Apple to disappoint at WWDC.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Moreover, its top line missed consensus expectations and April renewals should disappoint given a 2.5% price decrease and a 8% decline in volumes, he says.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
For that to happen, earnings won’t need to necessarily disappoint; rather, investors can choose to take a dimmer view on the immense corporate investment in AI-related data centers.
From MarketWatch • May 3, 2026
Hearing the mother’s wail, and seeing the trust Pechvarry had in him, Ged did not know how he could disappoint them.
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
