Word
disappointment
Phoneticsdis·ap·point·ment, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/
UK/dˌɪsɐpˈɔɪntmənt/
Definitions
01the feeling of sadness
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the sad feeling you have when something you wanted does not happen or is not as good as you expected.
n. the emotional state of sadness or frustration arising from the failure of expectations to be realised.
日本語:失望※
“To my great disappointment, the concert was cancelled at the last minute.”
“She struggled to hide her disappointment when the promotion she had worked toward for years was given to a less experienced colleague.”
Pitfall
He felt a big disappointment when he failed.
He felt great disappointment when he failed.
When talking about the general feeling, 'disappointment' is often uncountable and does not need 'a'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a person or thing that fails
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person, thing, or event that is not as good as you hoped it would be.
n. a specific person, object, or event that fails to meet expectations or standards.
“The new movie was a huge disappointment after all the positive reviews.”
“The seasonal harvest proved to be a bitter disappointment for the local farmers, yielding less than half of the projected crop.”
Usage
In this sense, the noun is countable and usually follows 'be' or 'prove to be'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “disappointment” in context.
Verb
01. express disappointment
“The manager expressed disappointment with the team's performance during the second half.”
verb + noun
02. face a disappointment
“Young athletes must learn how to face a disappointment and move on quickly.”
verb + noun
03. hide your disappointment
“She tried to hide her disappointment when she realized she hadn't won the scholarship.”
verb + possessive + noun
Adjective
04. bitter disappointment
“Losing the final match by just one point was a bitter disappointment for the whole school.”
adj + noun
05. huge disappointment
“The sequel to the movie was a huge disappointment compared to the original.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. sense of disappointment
“A profound sense of disappointment filled the room when the project was canceled.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. in disappointment
“He shook his head in disappointment after reading the test results.”
prep + noun
08. to your disappointment
“To my disappointment, the restaurant was already closed when we arrived.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“There was disappointment for 2025 world indoor champion Amber Anning, who was forced to pull out of the women's 400m final after suffering an injury during her warm-up.” “Despite her disappointment, this was her 12th senior international medal and she continues to progress her times, lowering her personal best in all but her injury-devastated 2025 season across the past four years.” Etymology
From disappoint + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/disappointment
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0