A feeling of unhappiness, disappointment, and shock; to make someone feel this way.
The students checked the notice board for exam results. When Sarah found her name, her face fell. To her dismay, she had failed the course she thought she’d passed easily. She stood frozen, staring at the paper while her friends celebrated around her.
This meaning is about that sinking feeling when something bad happens unexpectedly. Imagine opening your email and discovering, to your dismay, that the job you were sure you’d get went to someone else. This is dismay — a mix of disappointment and shock. You might watch in dismay as your team loses badly, or feel dismay when your flight gets cancelled. Or picture parents who react with dismay when their child announces they’re dropping out of university. The word suggests being upset and caught off guard.
Vivid example: Much to her dismay, the wedding dress she’d ordered online looked nothing like the photos — cheap fabric, wrong color, and two sizes too small with the big day just weeks away.
This meaning is about causing someone to feel that unhappy, shocked feeling. Imagine a government announcement that dismays environmentalists by approving new oil drilling, crushing their hopes for change. This is dismaying someone — making them feel let down. You might be dismayed to learn your best friend lied to you, or news of budget cuts could dismay hospital workers. Or think about how rising prices dismay shoppers who remember when things cost less. The word suggests causing upset through bad news or actions.
Vivid example: The restaurant bill dismayed them — they had expected a nice dinner, not a three-hundred-dollar shock that wiped out their entertainment budget for the entire month.
Examples from the street:
“To my dismay, they’d already sold out of tickets.” → I was really upset to discover they’d already run out of places
“The news dismayed everyone in the office.” → The announcement upset and worried everybody at work
“She looked at the mess in dismay.” → She stared at the chaos feeling shocked and upset
Dismay as noun — VERY COMMON:
– to someone’s dismay → causing someone to feel upset (set phrase)
– in/with dismay → feeling shock and disappointment
– much to someone’s dismay → greatly upsetting someone
– a look/expression of dismay → facial appearance showing upset
– a sense/feeling of dismay → experiencing shock and worry
Dismay as noun with verbs:
– express/voice dismay → communicate feeling upset
– cause dismay → make people feel shocked and upset
– hide/conceal one’s dismay → try not to show upset feelings
– fill someone with dismay → make someone feel very upset
Dismay as verb:
– dismay someone → cause someone to feel shocked and upset
– be dismayed by/at → feel upset about something
– be dismayed to find/discover/learn → feel upset upon learning something
Dismayed as adjective:
– deeply/greatly dismayed → very upset
– somewhat/slightly dismayed → a little upset
Example Sentences
1. To my dismay, the restaurant had given away our table reservation → I was really upset to find that the eating establishment had let someone else have our booking.
2. She stared at the broken vase in dismay, knowing it was irreplaceable → She gazed at the shattered pot feeling shocked and upset, aware that it couldn’t be substituted.
3. Much to his dismay, his ex-girlfriend was at the same party → He was very unhappy to discover that his former partner was attending the same gathering.
4. The decision caused dismay among local residents who opposed the development → The ruling upset neighbouring inhabitants who were against the construction project.
5. I was dismayed to discover that my flight had been cancelled → I felt shocked and upset to learn that my aircraft had been called off.
6. She tried to hide her dismay when she saw her exam results → She attempted to conceal her disappointment when she viewed her test scores.
7. Environmental groups have expressed dismay at the government’s decision → Green organisations have voiced their disappointment regarding the administration’s ruling.
8. The news filled them with dismay — they hadn’t expected such a poor outcome → The announcement made them extremely upset — they hadn’t anticipated such a bad result.
9. He was deeply dismayed by the lack of support from his colleagues → He felt very disappointed about the absence of backing from his workmates.
10. Her look of dismay told me everything I needed to know about the interview → Her expression of disappointment communicated all I needed to understand about the meeting.
Learner Examples
1. To my dismay, I discovered I’d been pronouncing the word wrong for years and nobody had corrected me → I was really upset to find out I’d been saying the term incorrectly for a long time and no one had put me right.
2. Teachers often feel dismayed when students make the same mistakes repeatedly despite clear explanations → Instructors frequently experience disappointment when learners commit identical errors over and over despite straightforward guidance.
✔ Native usage tips
– “To my dismay” is extremely common — this set phrase appears constantly in both spoken and written English. It’s a natural way to introduce something unexpectedly bad. “To my surprise” is its neutral counterpart
– “Much to someone’s dismay” adds emphasis — this variation strengthens the emotion. “Much to her dismay, he arrived late again” emphasises how upset she was
– “Dismay” combines shock and disappointment — it’s not just being sad; it includes an element of surprise or alarm. You feel dismayed when something unexpectedly goes wrong
– The verb is slightly more formal than the noun — “I was dismayed” is common, but in casual speech people might say “I was really upset” or “I was gutted” instead
– “In dismay” describes a state or reaction — “She watched in dismay” or “He shook his head in dismay” are typical constructions describing someone’s visible reaction
– Common in news reporting — journalists use “expressed dismay,” “caused dismay,” and “greeted with dismay” when reporting reactions to events. It’s standard formal vocabulary
– “Dismayed” vs “dismaying” — “dismayed” describes how you feel (I was dismayed); “dismaying” describes what causes the feeling (the dismaying news). Both are common
✔ Similar expressions / words
– Disappointment → more common and neutral; lacks the shock element; “disappointment” is about unmet expectations; “dismay” includes alarm and distress
– Alarm → emphasises worry and fear more than sadness; “alarm” suggests danger; “dismay” suggests things have gone wrong but isn’t necessarily threatening
– Consternation → more formal and stronger than “dismay”; suggests anxiety and confusion as well as shock; “consternation” is less common in everyday speech