If you’ve been learning about prepositions, you already know that these are words that come before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show time, place, direction, and spatial relationship. An example is “despite.” But what is despite definition, meaning, and how do you use the word in your sentence?
The definition of “despite” (preposition) is contemptuous disregard. The word shows that an event has occurred even though something might have prevented it from happening. A good example is that you might read a book “despite hearing negative reviews about it.”
“Despite” is one of the English words with more than one meaning. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the different meanings if you want to use words correctly in your sentences. We detail all you need to know about this word in this article.
What Is the Definition of Despite?
“Despite” (preposition) means “notwithstanding.” You use the word “despite” when introducing a fact that makes the other part of the sentence surprising or not expected.
The word shows a conquering aspect of a defeated feeling. For instance, use the word to show some hurdles that someone or something has overcome. Ideologically, you can also use “despite” to show defeat after someone tried their best to succeed in something.
Example sentences:
- Despite the lack of rain, their farmland was still productive.
- Mrs. Smith arrived late despite getting warned several times to be on time.
- Even though the family members told her not to attend, she went to the funeral.
Word Forms of Despite
Different words come in different word forms to make it easier for you to use them in different sentences. Read more on word forms of the word “despite” below:
Despited: “Despised” is the simple past tense and past participle of despite.
Example sentences:
- She despised how her neighbor brought in different men each night.
- Francis despised his new boss and the attitude that he had.
- Despised by all her classmates, Richard chose to drop out of school.
Synonyms of Despite
These are the words that have the same meaning as “despite.” Learning synonyms is one of the best and easiest ways to improve your vocabulary. Here we go!
- Undeterred by
- Despite
- For all
- In defense of
- Regardless of
- Notwithstanding
- Without being affected by
- Even with
- In the face of
- In defiance of
Antonyms of Despite
Make sure you also learn the word’s antonyms to express yourself better when communicating. Knowing the antonyms will help you avoid confusion when using the word. Below is the list.
- Because of
- As a consequence of
- Owing to
- Because of
- Due to
- Thanks to
- On the strength of
- By virtue of
- On account of
- As a result of
Despite Yourself Meaning
A common word phrase used in the English language is “despite yourself.” When you do something despite yourself, you did something even though that was not your intention.
Example sentences:
- Despite myself, I decided to have fun at the party.
- Sam and Tabitha grew to love each other almost despite themselves.
- Despite the rain, the wedding ceremony continued.
Despite the Fact that Meaning
The phrase “despite the fact that” shows that something has occurred even though something else prevented it. The phrase expresses defiance and the ability to ignore all odds.
Examples sentences:
- Leon loves her despite the fact that she is tiny.
- Grace is very good at physics despite the fact that she finds it boring.
- Despite the fact that the driver was drunk, the tourist reached the destination safely.
What Is the Meaning of Despite?
“Despite” as a verb means” lack of respect followed by a feeling of dislike.” But “despite” as a noun shows contemptuous treatment or behavior outrage.
Note that when you use the word “despite” to show dislike, it usually means an open dislike of someone or something considered unworthy of respect or concern. The synonym of “despite” in this case is “hate.”
Example sentences
- I was the one to talk to my sister despite the bad news.
- She turned down the position despite her promotion.
- My son does not like visiting the farm despite his love for animals.
Despite vs. Despise
Most people confuse two words when reading and writing: “despite” and “despise,” for a good reason. The difference in spelling between these two words is one letter. In addition, they have the same root, but they have different meanings. “Despite” means scorn, while “despise” means to look down.
Despite vs. Although
“Despite” and “although” are both used to indicate contrast, but most people struggle to find the difference. However, one of the main differences is that the word “despite” is a preposition while the word “although” is a subordinate conjunction. Besides, when you use “despite,” it should follow a noun or pronoun, while when using “although,” a clause should follow it.
Words That Rhyme With Despite
Some English words have similar sounds at the end. Here is a look at words that rhyme with despite.
- Right
- White
- Flight
- Light
- Night
- Spite
- Bite
- Height
- Slight
- Recite
- Quite
How to Use Despite in a Sentence?
You can use despite in sentences as a verb or preposition. This applies in different contexts that embrace the word. Learn more about the word usage and much more below.
As a Preposition
Use “despite” as a preposition in sentences where you want to emphasize the decision made and not the motivation behind it. When using it in a sentence, note that it is a contrasting word.
For instance, “Stephen rode his bike up the mountain despite his parents’ warning that it was not safe.” This statement shows that Stephen considered the advice his parents gave him and concluded that he was willing to take the risk.
As a verb
Use “despite “as a verb to show someone or something that someone disregarded highly.
Before using “despite” in your sentences, think of the form you will use. Also, note that regardless of the form, you can use “despite” at the start or the middle of the sentence.
Synonyms of the Despite (Verb)
- Resentment
- Hate
- Disdain
- Scorn
- Meanness
- Spite
- Ill will
- Malignity
- Aversion
- Cattiness
Antonyms of Despite (Verb)
- Devotion
- Love
- Friendliness
- Charity
- Kindness
- Veneration
- Sympathy
- Worship
- Passion
- Amiability
Is Despite Negative or Positive
Words have power, and the way you use them helps to crystallize the perception that we use to shape our beliefs and behavior. Before using a word, find out if it is negative or positive. Use the word “despite” when contradicting a positive instance.
10 Examples of Despite in a Sentence
Practice the various ways to use “despite” through reading the sentences below. That will help you know the word in detail and the appropriate use in your speeches.
- Despite the excruciating headache Adam had, he still completed the exam.
- I had a great time on my vacation despite the cold weather.
- He continued to gamble despite losing all the money he had with him.
- Robbers are still getting into the bank despite the bank spending money on cameras.
- The jury decided that despite the fight, Mark got provoked and should get a minimum sentence.
- Most people liked the chief despite his appearance and disability.
- His mother got impressed despite the many horrible things that his son Brian had done.
- Despite playing guessing games, just tell me what is happening.
- Despite the sad mood at the farewell, David laughed loudly.
- I despise my neighbor, and I know that he is the one who steals from us even though I do not have any evidence.
How Do You Spell Despite?
The spelling of “despite” is “D.E.S.P.I.T.E.”
A fun fact about spelling the word “despite” is that the scrabble score is 10.
How Do You Pronounce Despite?
The word is pronounced as “duh.spite” The best way to perfect your pronunciation of the word is by breaking it into two distinct sounds “[DI] + [S.P.Y.T.}” then say the words out loud and exaggerate the sounds.
Another important tip to help you with pronunciation is focusing on the accent you will use. There is a slight difference in accent when pronouncing the word using U.S. and U.K. English. Pick the accent you want and stick to it when practicing the pronunciation.
How Many Syllables Are in Despite?
The number of syllables in “despite” is two. These syllables are “de and spite.” The stressed syllable of the word is spite.
History & Etymology of Despite
The origin of the word “despite” is Latin” despite.” Later, the Latin word changed to “desectus” to mean “looking down.”
Later the Old French Language borrowed the word and used it as “despite” but retained the same meaning as the Latin word. English borrowed the word from Old French and used it as “in despite of.” Later the English language changed the word to “despite.”
When Was Despite First Used?
The word “despite” was introduced as a noun in the 13th century. It was used as a verb in the 14th century. Later in the 15 century, it was used as a preposition.
Conclusion
“Despite” is a versatile word that applies in different settings to show different meanings. If you want to know much about the word, take your time to understand each section explained in this article. All the best as you practice using and pronouncing the word “despite.”
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.