disappoint
Formsdisappoints, disappointing, disappointed
- 1To sadden or displease someone by performing worse than expected, or by not providing what was promised or hoped for.
The sequel disappointed critics who had praised the original film.
We don't want to disappoint the investors who trusted us with their savings.
Similarfail, dismay, dissatisfy, disillusion, sadden
- 2To cause someone to miss out on something they expected or hoped to receive.
They that haue money in their purse, are afrayde and in doubte, yea and are continuallye martyred with feare, leaste GOD should disappoint them of their pray, and abate their portion.
1574, Arthur Golding, Sermons of Master John CalvinNote
Here the loss is the point, not the feeling, and the thing withheld follows with of. Arthur Golding's 1574 translation of Calvin's sermons on Job fears that God will disappoint the rich of their prey. Thomas Killigrew's The Parson's Wedding (1637) has disappointing her of a promise, and in Charlotte Lennox's Henrietta (1758) a guest will not be disappointing him of his coffee. Without of, the verb usually carries the everyday letting-down sense.
- 3To fail to meet an expectation or to fulfill a hope that someone held.
The verdict disappointed the expectations of the entire community.
“But perhaps your accommodations—your cottage—your furniture—have disappointed your expectations?”
1847, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], Jane EyreSimilarfrustrate, dash, thwart, defeat
Oppositefulfill, satisfy, meet
Note
The object is the hope itself rather than the person who holds it. Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre (1847) asks whether the furniture has disappointed your expectations, and in Louisa May Alcott's Little Men (1871) Mrs. Bhaer cannot disappoint his hope. It can even be good news: in Tobias Smollett's The History and Adventures of an Atom (1769), fears are happily disappointed by an emperor's recovery. Because it is dated, it now reads as period style.
Less common meanings
- 4To show that an opinion, belief, or assumption is mistaken.
The election results disappointed the widespread belief that the party was unbeatable.
Careful study will disappoint many a confident assumption about the period.
Similarconfound, refute, disprove, contradict, belie
Oppositeconfirm, vindicate, validate
Note
A close relative of the unfulfilled-hope meaning, except that what fails is a judgment rather than a wish. The judgment is often a flattering one. In Jane Austen's Mansfield Park (1814), a speaker trusts that the listener will not disappoint my opinion of you. The participle lingers in Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Avonlea (1909), in a sigh of disappointed conviction. Since the sense is dated, modern writing usually says proved wrong instead.
- 5To prevent something that had been planned or attempted from being carried out.
The sudden arrival of the watch disappointed the robbers' attempt on the strongbox.
The wary Trojan shrinks, and bending low Beneath his Buckler, disappoints the Blow.
1715, Homer, The Iliad of HomerNote
The strongest of the old meanings is a defeat, not a let-down, and it sits close to frustrate and thwart. The King James Bible of 1611 has God disappointing the devices of the crafty. In Alexander Pope's Iliad, a Trojan ducks behind his buckler and disappoints the blow, and Walter Scott's Rob Roy (1817) uses it for a foiled plan. The sense is now obsolete, so it is best recognized when reading, with thwart used in its place when writing.
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Origin
From Middle French desapointer (compare French désappointer).