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Glite Dictionary
to disappoint

to disappoint

492 1.0
Fail to do what someone hoped for
  • verb
  • /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/
translation icon : decepcionar
  • Many fans were disappointed when their favorite band canceled the concert.
  • disappoint expectations
  • feel disappointed
  • many were disappointed

So this idea you have continues to disappoint you, not your mom.

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Examples

  • It's like, did I disappoint you or let you down?

  • It's the ones you love the most that always disappoint you in the end.

    Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

  • So this idea you have continues to disappoint you, not your mom.

    B. Simone

  • Oh my God, you disappoint me so many times.

  • But as a weight loss strategy, it's going to disappoint you every time, OK.

  • I would not want to disappoint him.

    Cabrini (2024)

  • Students did not want to disappoint these teachers by doing less than their best work.

    Academic text (2015)

  • "But I could not disappoint Gene, who had made all the plans.

    Academic text (2013)

  • I am scared of disappointing my mother or daughter.

  • But I hate to disappoint guys, but it's never aliens.

    Dr. Becky

Synonyms

to let down
vsto disappoint
210 2.9

Make someone feel disappointed by not doing what you promised

covers failures to meet hopes or expectations, not just broken promises
to displease
vsto disappoint
28 4.7

To make someone feel annoyed or unhappy

is about failing to meet hopes or expectations, not only causing irritation
to underperform
vsto disappoint
20 5.3

To do worse than expected or needed

refers to poor results in performance situations, not all kinds of unmet hopes
to leave something to be desired
vsto disappoint
16 6.6

Is not as good as expected or needed

is about failing to meet someone's hopes or expectations rather than general quality
to dishearten
vsto disappoint
8 5.3

To make someone lose hope or confidence

means fail to meet hopes or expectations without necessarily destroying confidence
to fail to impress
vsto disappoint
2 4.1

Not make people think something is good or special

is about not meeting hopes or expectations, not only failing to gain approval
to underachieve
vsto disappoint
1 5.5

Do less well than expected or than they can

focuses on missed potential or results rather than general unmet hopes
to dissatisfy
vsto disappoint
1 4.3

To make someone unhappy because something does not meet their needs or wants

is about failing specifically to meet someone's hopes or expectations
to end on a false note
vsto disappoint
7.0

Finish in a way that leaves people disappointed or unhappy

is a broader failing to meet hopes or expectations, not only at the end

Antonyms

to please
216 1.0

To make someone happy or satisfied

to satisfy
172 2.0

Make someone happy by meeting their need or wish

Phrasal Verbs

to never disappoint
7 2.9

To always meet or go beyond what people expect

How Disappointing

to devastate
221 4.9
to upset
362 1.0
to disappoint
492 1.0
to let down
210 2.9
to displease
28 4.7

Surface Forms

disappoint infinitive
disappointed past
disappointed past participle
disappointing present participle
disappoints third person singular

Morphology

disappoint = appoint (opaque) = dis + appoint

Although morphologically dis- + appoint is historically correct, the modern meaning 'fail to meet expectations' is not derivable from 'appoint' meaning 'assign', so learners cannot reliably infer the sense.

Etymology

Disappoint comes from the parts dis- meaning 'not' or 'away' and appoint meaning 'to set in place', as in appointment. So to disappoint someone is to 'take away' or 'not give' what they hoped for, which is why it means to fail to meet someone's hopes.