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
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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.
See Examples For:
Burnham has long been unusual as a politician - a leader who has managed to be popular in a time when politicians often disappoint and are sometimes despised.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 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
If free cash flow improvements disappoint, capital expenditures and the depreciation that comes with them will still “hit on schedule” and squeeze margins, Slok added.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
The ministry will never disappoint Mr. Smith in order to please a mere consul.
From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez
Hissey sees little risk it disappoints on FY 2026 guidance now.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 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
And it’s so deeply painful because whatever you write inevitably disappoints you and makes you feel depressed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 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
Eimear McCloskey, 18, feels "disappointed and nervous" that more isn't being done to protect women in her community.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
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
Investors could be left disappointed, given that Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has tended to shy away from forward guidance and favors short statements, ING analysts James Knightley and Chris Turner said in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Would they be glad to have a big sister or disappointed to lose a governess?
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
“Helium weighed on sales and margins, and the disappointing cash generation was impacted by the end of the factoring program,” the analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
It was a disappointing end to her Commonwealth debut, but there was still plenty of pride.
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
“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
He seemed to think I knew exactly what he meant, and I realized, with some irritation, that I didn’t dare say anything just then, for fear of disappointing him.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
