Disappoint

/dɪsəˈpɔɪnt/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To sadden or displease (someone) by underperforming, or by not delivering something promised or hoped for..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To sadden or displease (someone) by underperforming, or by not delivering something promised or hoped for.
2. (transitive) To deprive (someone of something expected or hoped for).
3. (transitive, dated) To fail to meet (an expectation); to fail to fulfil (a hope).
4. (transitive, dated) To show (an opinion, belief, etc.) to be mistaken.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To prevent (something planned or attempted).

Example Sentences

His lack of respect disappointed her.

I was disappointed by last year’s revenue.

Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country.

My father liked his rice light and fluffy, but separate. […] Since he’d gone so long without a taste, the possibility of disappointing him weighed heavily on my mother.

1637, Thomas Killigrew, The Parson’s Wedding, Act V, Scene 4, in Comedies and Tragedies, London: Henry Herringman, 1664, p. 152, Bless me from an old waiting-womans wrath; she’l never forgive me the disappointing her of a promise when I was drunk;

1707, extract from Lord Caryll’s letters, in James Macpherson (ed.), Original Papers: containing the secret history of Great Britain, from the restoration, to the accession of the House of Hannover, London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1775, Volume 2, p. 86, You tell me, that the hasty departure of Mr. Rysehoven [Marlborough] out of town disappointed you of speaking to him, of which the loss, I think, is not very great;

They that haue money in their purse, are afrayde and in doubte, yea and are continuallye martyred with feare, leaste GOD should disappoint them of their pray, and abate their portion.

Miss Courteney […] sat down again, tho’ with some reluctance, telling his lordship that she would not be the means of disappointing him of his coffee; but that she must insist upon being permitted to withdraw in half an hour, having business of consequence upon her hands.

Synonyms for disappoint

Antonyms for disappoint

Related Words

Word Forms

• disappoints
• disappointing
• disappointed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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