Word
despise
Phoneticsde·spise, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈspaɪz/
UK/dɪspˈaɪz/
Definitions
01to hate or look down on
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to feel a strong dislike for someone or something that you think is worthless or bad.
v. to regard with contempt, scorn, or deep-seated moral disapproval. Transitive — always requires a direct object.
“He despised the way the company treated its hardest workers.”
“She despised the hypocrisy of the politicians who preached austerity while living in luxury at the taxpayers' expense.”
Pitfall
I am despising people who lie.
I despise people who lie.
Despise is a stative verb; it describes a state of mind rather than an action, so it is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form.
02to disregard or ignore
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to ignore something or treat it as if it is not important.
v. to treat as negligible or unworthy of attention; to disregard. This sense is less common in modern speech and often carries a literary tone.
“The young prince was taught never to despise the advice of his elders.”
“In his arrogance, the general chose to despise the warnings of his scouts, leading his troops directly into a well-prepared ambush.”
Real-World Examples
“They despise everything about France, and they’re destroying that country.” “The only thing is, he despises everything the American showbiz pianist stands for.” Etymology
From Middle English despisen, from Old French despis-, stem of despire, from Latin dēspicere (“to look down upon, despise, scorn”), from dē (“down”) + speciō (“to look at”). Displaced native Old English forsēon.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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