# disappoint

/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/ (US) · /dˌɪsɐpˈɔɪnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disappoint
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. to fail to fulfil a hope

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to not happen in the way that was planned or hoped for.

For teachers: to fail to fulfil or satisfy a hope, expectation, or plan. Often takes an abstract noun as the object rather than a person.

- The low sales figures disappointed our hopes for a quick expansion.
- The final results of the clinical trial disappointed the researchers' expectations, as the drug failed to show a significant improvement over the placebo.

### 3. to prevent a plan

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to stop a plan from working or happening.

For teachers: to defeat or frustrate a plan, intention, or design. This sense is increasingly rare in modern speech but persists in formal or literary contexts.

- The heavy rain disappointed their plans for an outdoor wedding.
- The sudden arrival of the guards disappointed his attempt to escape through the narrow window of the cell.

## Examples

- I am sorry to disappoint you, but the tickets are sold out.
- The sequel to the movie did not disappoint the fans, as it featured the same humor as the original.
- While the technical specifications of the new smartphone are impressive, the actual battery life may disappoint users who rely on their devices for heavy media consumption throughout the day.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.