# disappointed

/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnɪd/ (US) · /dˌɪsɐpˈɔɪntɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disappointed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. feeling let down

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling sad or unhappy because something was not as good as you hoped.

For teachers: experiencing a sense of sadness or dissatisfaction arising from the failure of expectations or hopes to materialise.

- He was disappointed with his exam results because he had studied very hard.
- The fans were deeply disappointed by the team's performance, especially after the high expectations set during the pre-season matches.

Usage: Commonly followed by the prepositions 'with', 'by', 'at', or 'in'.

### 2. showing disappointment

adjective · CEFR B2

showing through your voice or face that you are unhappy about a result.

For teachers: expressing or indicating a state of disappointment through outward appearance, tone, or manner.

- She gave a disappointed sigh when she saw that the shop was closed.
- The manager cast a disappointed look toward the interns after they failed to meet the project deadline for the second time.

Usage: Typically used to modify nouns related to expression, such as 'look', 'sigh', 'tone', or 'voice'.

## Examples

- I am disappointed that the concert is cancelled.
- She was disappointed with the results of the experiment after working on it for several months.
- The fans were deeply disappointed by the team's performance, as they had expected a much more competitive match given the recent signings and improved training regime.

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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.