despite

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de·spite

(dĭ-spīt′)

prep.

In spite of; notwithstanding: won the game despite overwhelming odds.

1. Contemptuous defiance or disregard.

2. Spite; malice: "He died soon after ... of pure despite and vexation" (Sir Walter Scott).

[Short for in despite of, from Middle English despit, spite, from Old French, from Latin dēspectus, from past participle of dēspicere, to despise; see despise.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

despite

(dɪˈspaɪt)

prep

in spite of; undeterred by

1. archaic contempt; insult

2. in despite of (preposition) rare in spite of

(tr) an archaic word for spite

[C13: from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectus contempt; see despise]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•spite

(dɪˈspaɪt)

prep., n., v. -spit•ed, -spit•ing. prep.

1. in spite of; notwithstanding.

2. contemptuous treatment; insult.

3. malice, hatred, or spite.

v.t.

4. Obs. to anger; annoy.

Idioms:

in despite of, in spite of; notwithstanding.

[1250–1300; orig. in despite of; Middle English despit < Old French < Latin dēspectus view from a height, scorn]

in spite of

– despite

1. 'in spite of'

You use in spite of when you are mentioning something that surprisingly does not prevent something else from being true. The spelling is in spite of, not 'inspite of'.

The air was clear and fresh, in spite of all the traffic.

In spite of his ill health, my father was always cheerful.

Be Careful!
Don't use 'in spite of' to say that something is not affected by any circumstances. Don't say, for example, 'Everyone can take part, in spite of their ability'. Say 'Everyone can take part regardless of their ability' or 'Everyone can take part whatever their ability'.

If she is determined to do something, she will do it regardless of what her parents say.

The gardens look beautiful whatever the time of year.

Be Careful!
Don't use 'in spite of' as a conjunction. Don't say, for example, 'In spite of we objected, they took our phones away '. Say 'Although we objected, they took our phones away'.

Maria kept her coat on, although it was warm in the room.

2. 'despite'

Despite means the same as in spite of. Don't say 'despite of'.

Despite the difference in their ages, they were close friends.

The school is going to be closed despite protests from local people.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

despite

Past participle: despited
Gerund: despiting

Imperative
despite
despite

Present
I despite
you despite
he/she/it despites
we despite
you despite
they despite

Preterite
I despited
you despited
he/she/it despited
we despited
you despited
they despited

Present Continuous
I am despiting
you are despiting
he/she/it is despiting
we are despiting
you are despiting
they are despiting

Present Perfect
I have despited
you have despited
he/she/it has despited
we have despited
you have despited
they have despited

Past Continuous
I was despiting
you were despiting
he/she/it was despiting
we were despiting
you were despiting
they were despiting

Past Perfect
I had despited
you had despited
he/she/it had despited
we had despited
you had despited
they had despited

Future
I will despite
you will despite
he/she/it will despite
we will despite
you will despite
they will despite

Future Perfect
I will have despited
you will have despited
he/she/it will have despited
we will have despited
you will have despited
they will have despited

Future Continuous
I will be despiting
you will be despiting
he/she/it will be despiting
we will be despiting
you will be despiting
they will be despiting

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been despiting
you have been despiting
he/she/it has been despiting
we have been despiting
you have been despiting
they have been despiting

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been despiting
you will have been despiting
he/she/it will have been despiting
we will have been despiting
you will have been despiting
they will have been despiting

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been despiting
you had been despiting
he/she/it had been despiting
we had been despiting
you had been despiting
they had been despiting

Conditional
I would despite
you would despite
he/she/it would despite
we would despite
you would despite
they would despite

Past Conditional
I would have despited
you would have despited
he/she/it would have despited
we would have despited
you would have despited
they would have despited

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	despite - lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike; "he was held in contempt"; "the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary" contempt, disdain, scorn dislike - a feeling of aversion or antipathy; "my dislike of him was instinctive"
	2.	despite - contemptuous disregard; "she wanted neither favor nor despite" disregard, neglect - willful lack of care and attention

despite

preposition in spite of, in the face of, regardless of, even with, notwithstanding, in defiance of, in the teeth of, undeterred by, in contempt of Despite a thorough investigation, no sign of him has been found.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

despite

noun

1. The disposition boldly to defy or resist authority or an opposing force:

contempt, contumacy, defiance, recalcitrance, recalcitrancy.

2. The feeling of despising:

contempt, despisal, disdain, scorn.

3. An act that offends a person's sense of pride or dignity:

affront, contumely, indignity, insult, offense, outrage, slight.

Idiom: slap in the face.

Translations

Spanish / Español

Select a language:

a pesar de

despite

[dɪsˈpaɪt] PREP → a pesar de, pese a

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

despite

(diˈspait) preposition

in spite of. He didn't get the job despite all his qualifications.a pesar de

despite

→ a pesar de

References in classic literature ?

Despite his struggles--despite his strength and activity, which seemed wasted in a void, he felt the cold fingers close upon his throat.

View in context

Despite the fact, therefore, that all Nietzsche's views in this respect were dictated to him by the profoundest love; despite Zarathustra's reservation in this discourse, that "with women nothing (that can be said) is impossible," and in the face of other overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Nietzsche is universally reported to have mis son pied dans le plat, where the female sex is concerned.

View in context

The president tore open the envelope, read the dispatch, and, despite his remarkable powers of self-control, his lips turned pale and his eyes grew dim, on reading the twenty words of this telegram.

View in context

Fogg accordingly tasted the dish, but, despite its spiced sauce, found it far from palatable.

Fogg talked about was not really in good earnest, and whether his fate was not in truth forcing him, despite his love of repose, around the world in eighty days!

View in context

Despite the un-Russian appearance of the locality and surroundings- fruit gardens, stone fences, tiled roofs, and hills in the distance- and despite the fact that the inhabitants (who gazed with curiosity at the soldiers) were not Russians, the regiment had just the appearance of any Russian regiment preparing for an inspection anywhere in the heart of Russia.

View in context

And yet, despite my physical loathing for alcohol, the brightest spots in my child life were the saloons.

Despite my two disastrous experiences, here was John Barleycorn, prevalent and accessible everywhere in the community, luring and drawing me.

View in context

In this respect, indeed, I feel nervous, for the reason that it is so difficult to divine what your taste in books may be, despite my knowledge of your character.

View in context

Still, despite my griefs, I did all in my power to appear composed and cheerful, well knowing that by manifesting any uneasiness, or any desire to escape, I should only frustrate my object.

View in context

She has seen that the tears are not dry on These cheeks, where the worm never dies, And has come past the stars of the Lion, To point us the path to the skies -- To the Lethean peace of the skies -- Come up, in despite of the Lion, To shine on us with her bright eyes -- Come up, through the lair of the Lion, With love in her luminous eyes."

View in context

The first stage of Michael's new adventure involved no unusual hardship, despite the fact that he was so cramped in his crate that he could not stand up and that the jolting and handling of the crate sent countless twinges of pain shooting through his shoulder.