disappoint
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to not happen in the way that was planned or hoped for.
to fail to fulfil or satisfy a hope, expectation, or plan. Often takes an abstract noun as the object rather than a person.
Simple“The low sales figures disappointed our hopes for a quick expansion.”
In context“The final results of the clinical trial disappointed the researchers' expectations, as the drug failed to show a significant improvement over the placebo.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
to stop a plan from working or happening.
to defeat or frustrate a plan, intention, or design. This sense is increasingly rare in modern speech but persists in formal or literary contexts.
Simple“The heavy rain disappointed their plans for an outdoor wedding.”
In context“The sudden arrival of the guards disappointed his attempt to escape through the narrow window of the cell.”
Antonyms
“But he felt the dozens who had gathered to witness the eclipse left disappointed not to have got a better view.”
“She said fellow members of the class action suit were also disappointed with the result.”
From Middle French desapointer (compare French désappointer). The word originally meant to "dispossess of appointed office", and eventually broadened to mean "to frustrate the expectations or desires of" and "defeat the realization or fulfillment of".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.