verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/dɪsəˈpɔɪnt/
US:/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/
rhymes with -ɔɪnt
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:D IH2 S AH0 P OY1 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To sadden or displease (someone) by underperforming, or by not delivering something promised or hoped for.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
His lack of respect disappointed her.
I was disappointed by last year’s revenue.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To deprive (someone of something expected or hoped for).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
1637, Thomas Killigrew, The Parson’s Wedding, Act V, Scene 4, in Comedies and Tragedies, London: Henry Herringman, 1664, p. 152, Bless me from an old waiting-womans wrath; she’l never forgive me the disappointing her of a promise when I was drunk;
1707, extract from Lord Caryll’s letters, in James Macpherson (ed.), Original Papers: containing the secret history of Great Britain, from the restoration, to the accession of the House of Hannover, London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1775, Volume 2, p. 86, You tell me, that the hasty departure of Mr. Rysehoven [Marlborough] out of town disappointed you of speaking to him, of which the loss, I think, is not very great;
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To fail to meet (an expectation); to fail to fulfil (a hope).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, transitive
Examples
1751, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, No. 127, 4 June, 1751, Volume 4, London: J. Payne and J. Bouquet, 1752, pp. 240-241, It is not uncommon for those who at their first entrance into the world were distinguished for eminent attainments or superior abilities, to disappoint the hopes which they had raised, and to end in neglect and obscurity that life which they began in celebrity and honour.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To show (an opinion, belief, etc.) to be mistaken.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To prevent (something planned or attempted).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: frustrate, thwart
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
fail to meet the hopes or expectations of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Her boyfriend let her down when he did not propose marriage
Narrower terms: fail, betray, fall short, come short, disenchant, disillusion
History
Etymology
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".
Across languages
Translations
66 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
خَيَّبَ آمَالَهُ
(ḵayyaba ʔāmālahu)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Armenian:
հիասթափեցնել
(hiastʻapʻecʻnel)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Belarusian:
расчарава́ць
(rasčaravácʹ)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Bulgarian:
разочаровам
(razočarovam)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Catalan:
decebre
— to displease by underperforming etc
Chinese Mandarin:
使...失望
(shǐ ... shīwàng)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Chinese Mandarin:
辜負 /辜负
(gūfù, gūfu)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Chinese Mandarin:
對不起 /对不起
(duìbùqǐ)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Czech:
zklamat
— to displease by underperforming etc
Danish:
skuffe
— to displease by underperforming etc
Dutch:
teleurstellen
— to displease by underperforming etc
Esperanto:
malkontentigi
— to displease by underperforming etc
Finnish:
tuottaa pettymys
— to displease by underperforming etc
Finnish:
saada pettymään
— to displease by underperforming etc
French:
décevoir
— to displease by underperforming etc
French:
désappointer
— to displease by underperforming etc
Galician:
decepcionar
— to displease by underperforming etc
German:
enttäuschen
— to displease by underperforming etc
Greek:
απογοητεύω
(apogoïtévo)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Hebrew:
אכזב
(ikhzév)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Hungarian:
csalódást okoz
— to displease by underperforming etc
Hungarian:
kiábrándít
— to displease by underperforming etc
Ido:
deceptar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Irish:
cuir díomá ar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Italian:
deludere
— to displease by underperforming etc
Italian:
dispiacere
— to displease by underperforming etc
Italian:
contrariare
— to displease by underperforming etc
Japanese:
失望させる
(shitsubō saseru)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Korean:
실망시키다
(silmangsikida)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Latin:
frustro
— to displease by underperforming etc
Macedonian:
разочарува
(razočaruva)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Macedonian:
разочара
(razočara)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Old English:
āþwītan
— to displease by underperforming etc
Old English:
trucian
— to displease by underperforming etc
Polish:
rozczarować
— to displease by underperforming etc
Polish:
zawieść
— to displease by underperforming etc
Portuguese:
desapontar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Portuguese:
decepcionar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Portuguese:
dececionar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Russian:
разочаро́вывать
(razočaróvyvatʹ)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Russian:
разочарова́ть
(razočarovátʹ)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Russian:
подводи́ть
(podvodítʹ)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Russian:
подвести́
(podvestí)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Serbo-Croatian:
razočárati
— to displease by underperforming etc
Serbo-Croatian:
разочарати
— to displease by underperforming etc
Slovene:
razočarati
— to displease by underperforming etc
Spanish:
decepcionar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Spanish:
desilusionar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Spanish:
defraudar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Spanish:
quedar mal ante
— to displease by underperforming etc
Spanish:
desengañar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Spanish:
desesperanzar
— to displease by underperforming etc
Swedish:
göra besviken
— to displease by underperforming etc
Swedish:
svika
— to displease by underperforming etc
Swedish:
besvika
— to displease by underperforming etc
Thai:
ผิดหวัง
(pìt-wǎng)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Turkish:
düş kırıklığına uğratmak
— to displease by underperforming etc
Ukrainian:
розчаро́вувати
(rozčaróvuvaty)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Ukrainian:
розчарува́ти
(rozčaruváty)
— to displease by underperforming etc
Vietnamese:
làm thất vọng
— to displease by underperforming etc
Welsh:
siomi
— to displease by underperforming etc
