despite
- 01 B1 Intermediate
prep.used to say that something is happening even though there is something else that might prevent it.
prep.indicates that the main clause remains true regardless of the obstacle or circumstance mentioned in the prepositional phrase.
Simple“Despite the heavy rain, the football match continued until the final whistle.”
In context“Despite the significant initial investment required, the company decided to proceed with the project due to its long-term growth potential.”
UsageFollowed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (-ing form), but never by a 'that' clause.
PitfallDespite of the rain, we went for a walk. Despite the rain, we went for a walk.Do not use 'of' after 'despite'. If you want to use 'of', use the phrase 'in spite of' instead.
SynonymsAntonymsbecause ofdue to - 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a feeling of strong dislike or a desire to hurt someone's feelings.
n.contemptuous treatment, malice, or a state of defiance. Often found in the fixed phrase 'in despite of'.
Simple“He acted in despite of the rules, showing he did not care about the consequences.”
In context“The young lord continued his pursuit of the crown in despite of his father's explicit warnings and the threat of exile.”
UsagePrimarily encountered in older literature or formal legal contexts.
The noun is derived from Middle English despit, dispit, from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectum (“looking down on”), from dēspiciō (“to look down, despise”). The preposition is derived from Middle English dispit, itself derived from the phrase in dispit of (in despite of). Compare typologically Russian несмотря́ на (nesmotrjá na) (< смотре́ть (smotrétʹ)); невзира́я на (nevzirája na) (< взира́ть (vzirátʹ)), презре́в (prezrév) (< презре́ть (prezrétʹ) <~ зреть (zretʹ)) (compare despite—despise relation).
From Middle English despite, dispite, dyspite, dyspyte, from Old French despitier.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.