disappoint
HighNeutral. Used across all registers, from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
to fail to meet the hopes or expectations of someone; to let someone down.
To cause feelings of sadness, dissatisfaction, or frustration by not being as good as expected, or by not fulfilling a promise or hope.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is typically transitive, requiring an object (a person or people). The related adjective 'disappointing' applies to the thing that causes the feeling, while 'disappointed' describes the person who experiences it.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] disappoints [NP][NP] is disappointed by/with/in/at [NP/CL][NP] is disappointingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “disappoint someone's hopes”
- “live to disappoint (ironic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in performance reviews or project outcomes: 'The Q3 sales figures disappointed the board.'
Academic
Used to discuss experimental results or theoretical predictions: 'The data failed to support the hypothesis, disappointing the research team.'
Everyday
Common in personal relationships and experiences: 'I don't want to disappoint my parents.'
Technical
Rare in highly technical contexts, but possible in user experience design: 'An interface that disappoints user expectations will be abandoned.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The wet summer really disappointed holidaymakers hoping for sunshine.
- I hate to disappoint you, but the last train has just left.
American English
- The team's performance disappointed their loyal fans.
- Don't disappoint me by forgetting your promise.
adverb
British English
- She shook her head disappointedly when she saw the mess.
- He sighed disappointedly as the final whistle blew.
American English
- 'You forgot again?' she asked disappointedly.
- He looked at the broken toy disappointedly.
adjective
British English
- He had a very disappointed look on his face.
- The fans were deeply disappointed by the referee's decision.
American English
- We were disappointed with the hotel room after seeing the photos online.
- A disappointed investor pulled their funding from the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother was disappointed because his team lost.
- The toy was disappointing; it broke very quickly.
- I hope the film doesn't disappoint us after all the good reviews.
- She felt disappointed with her exam results.
- The government's new policy has disappointed environmental campaigners.
- Despite his disappointed tone, he agreed to help us one more time.
- The novel's protagonist is a deeply disappointed man, disillusioned by life's promises.
- Investors were bitterly disappointed by the company's lacklustre quarterly report.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'APPOINTMENT'. If you DIS-APPOINT someone, you are undoing or failing the appointment/expectation they had.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPECTATIONS ARE OBJECTS (that can be met, failed, or shattered); DISAPPOINTMENT IS A LOWERED POSITION (let down, dashed hopes).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'разочаровывать' for minor let-downs; it's often stronger. English 'disappoint' can be used more lightly.
- Do not confuse with 'расстраивать' (to upset/distress) which is more emotional.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I disappoint from the movie.' Correct: 'I was disappointed with/by the movie.' or 'The movie disappointed me.'
- Incorrect: 'It disappoints me when it rains.' (Unnatural personification). Better: 'It disappoints me when plans are cancelled because of rain.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'disappoint' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Disappointed with' is generally used for things and specific outcomes (disappointed with the service/results). 'Disappointed in' often implies a deeper, more personal feeling, typically about a person's character or behaviour (disappointed in his dishonesty). 'Disappointed by' is also common and often interchangeable with 'with'.
Rarely in active voice. It is almost always a transitive verb (e.g., 'You disappoint me.'). The passive form 'be disappointed' is very common and can be followed by a preposition (by, with, in, at) or a clause.
It is a present participle that functions as an adjective (e.g., 'a disappointing meal'). It describes the thing that causes the feeling of disappointment.
Yes, 'disappointment' (uncountable for the feeling, countable for a person or thing that causes it). E.g., 'She hid her disappointment.' / 'The cancelled trip was a big disappointment.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Emotions and Feelings
A2 · 33 words · Words to describe how you feel.