Dismay — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /dis-ˈmā/ dis·may

Meaning & Definition of Dismay

Dismay (verb)

  1. to cause to lose courage or resolution (as because of alarm or fear)
  2. upset, perturb

Dismay (noun)

  1. sudden loss of courage or resolution from alarm or fear
  2. sudden disappointment
  3. perturbation

Word Forms of Dismay

Inflections: dismayed, dismaying

Origin & Etymology of Dismay

Middle English, from Anglo-French desmaier, from des- dis- + -maier, from Vulgar Latin *-magare, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German magan to be able may:1

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Dismay

Frequently Asked Questions about Dismay

What does "Dismay" mean?

"Dismay" means to cause to lose courage or resolution (as because of alarm or fear). As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to cause to lose courage or resolution (as because of alarm or fear). It has 5 distinct senses.

Is "Dismay" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dismay" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Dismay" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Dismay" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Dismay"?

"Dismay" is pronounced /dis-ˈmā/ and divided into syllables as dis·may.

What is the origin of the word "Dismay"?

"Dismay" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French desmaier, from des- dis- + -maier, from Vulgar Latin *-magare, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German magan to be able may:1. First known use: 13th century.

What does "Dismay" mean as a verb?

As a verb, "Dismay" means: to cause to lose courage or resolution (as because of alarm or fear); upset, perturb.

What does "Dismay" mean as a noun?

As a noun, "Dismay" means: sudden loss of courage or resolution from alarm or fear; sudden disappointment; perturbation.

What CEFR level is "Dismay"?

"Dismay" is a C2-level word in SophDict's CEFR vocabulary lists, which group English words from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient).