Disappointed means feeling sad or let down because something you hoped for didn't happen the way you wanted. When you study hard for a test but still get a lower grade than you expected, you feel disappointed. When you plan an outdoor birthday party but it rains all day, disappointment is that sinking feeling in your chest.

Disappointment happens when reality doesn't match your expectations. You might feel disappointed when a friend cancels plans at the last minute, when your team loses an important game, or when a book everyone recommended turns out to be boring. The feeling combines sadness with a sense that things should have gone differently.

People also use the word to describe letting someone else down. A coach might say, “I'm disappointed in you,” when a player doesn't give their best effort, meaning they expected better and feel let down by the player's choices.

Everyone experiences disappointment, from small letdowns like a vending machine eating your money to bigger ones like not making the team you tried out for. The feeling is temporary, even when it seems overwhelming in the moment.