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
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.
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
The move will disappoint the US president, who has frequently clashed with Powell.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
I did not want to disappoint, so two days later I joined the club for dinner at a local restaurant.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Morgan Stanley analysts laid out a dour future for the industry in a report Thursday, saying they expect loan defaults to increase, fundraising to be sluggish and returns to disappoint.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
I didn’t wish to alarm or disappoint him, so when he asked me questions like “What’s your view on carbon fiber stays?”
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
