disappoint
Americanverb (used with object)
-
disappoints,
present (3rd person singular)
-
disappointed,
past participle, past
-
disappointing
present participle
-
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)
-
disappoints,
present (3rd person singular)
-
disappointed,
past participle, past
-
disappointing
present participle
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
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disappointsimple
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disappointssimple
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have disappointedperfect
-
has disappointedperfect
-
am disappointingprogressive
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are disappointingprogressive
-
is disappointingprogressive
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have been disappointingperfect progressive
-
has been disappointingperfect progressive
Past
-
disappointedsimple
-
had disappointedperfect
-
was disappointingprogressive
-
were disappointingprogressive
-
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:
Roblox stock is handed two Sell ratings after second-quarter earnings disappoint and guidance shows a worrying trend.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
The word had come that the outfit would not be just the traditional red, white and green of Wales but something sparkly and it did not disappoint.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The name-dropping is relentless and if, like me, you have an insatiable appetite for hoovering them up, this volume will not disappoint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 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
“But no. You’ve only been here a year. You’ve got plenty of time to disappoint them. Is Sister Ignatia here? I’d like to speak to her.”
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
Also, OpenAI disappoints some investors and shares of Unitree Robotics soar more than 600%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Kohl’s reports better-than-expected earnings for its latest quarter, though guidance disappoints.
From Barron's ● Mar. 10, 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
Even if it disappoints some people, it’s the more important message to put out into the world.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 25, 2025
But when it arrives, it too disappoints her.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
He said he was "shocked and disappointed", but also that the players "found themselves in this situation".
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Former Plymouth Royal Marine Edward Hill, who first logged the case in 2019, said while he was disappointed there had been "no accountability" the group were overall "happy with the settlement".
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Managers of the Metropolitan Water District, which supplies nearly 19 million people, have said the federal plan represents a vital step, but they’re disappointed it contains no water reductions for the upstream states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Naturally disappointed, really, that he's leaving the football club, he's done very well for us.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
I’m disappointed and sad and frustrated, but not surprised.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Shares of Walmart declined on Thursday after the world’s largest supermarket chain reported disappointing U.S. comparable sales growth, after drug prices were hit by changes to regulations on Medicaid prescribed medication.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
The company recently told investors that its second-quarter revenue growth lagged behind Anthropic’s, disappointing some shareholders, The Wall Street Journal reported.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
McGinty has been able to get a credit for the disappointing orders, but has canceled all future shipments for now, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Poland's Sulek-Schubert dropped to seventh after a disappointing start to Saturday.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 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.
