disappoint
Americanverb (used with object)
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to fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of.
His gross ingratitude disappointed us.
- Synonyms:
- disenchant, dishearten, disillusion, sadden
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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
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disappointsimple
-
disappointssimple
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have disappointedperfect
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has disappointedperfect
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am disappointingprogressive
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are disappointingprogressive
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is disappointingprogressive
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have been disappointingperfect progressive
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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.
The final decision may disappoint you, but that does not mean your father acted out of line.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 6, 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
“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
While it doesn’t look as expensive as when it was at its richest level, it’s also far from cheap—especially if earnings outlooks disappoint.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
An imposing congregation had massed itself around her first certainties, and now it was waiting and she could not disappoint it at the altar.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
