Despite
/dɪˈspaɪt/
Definitions
2 meaningsIn spite of; even though.
/dɪˈspaɪt/
In spite of; notwithstanding
Despite her fear, she entered the haunted house.
💡 Simply: Imagine you really want ice cream, but you have a cold. 'Despite' the cold, you still eat it! It means even though something might make something difficult, you still do it.
👶 For kids: Even though something is difficult, it still happens.
More Examples
Despite the traffic, we arrived on time.
She continued to smile despite her troubles.
How It's Used
"Despite the rain, the game continued."
"Despite his reservations, he agreed to the proposal."
Contemptuous treatment or regard; disdain. (Archaic usage)
/dɪˈspaɪt/
Contempt or disdain.
The king ruled the land with despite for his enemies.
💡 Simply: This is an older meaning. It means feeling very low of someone, looking down on them. like having a huge amount of dislike or hate for someone.
👶 For kids: Feeling like you don't like something.
More Examples
She glared at him with despite.
He saw her with despite, his face showing his utter lack of respect.
How It's Used
"He acted with despite."
Idioms & expressions
in despite of
Despite; in spite of.
"In despite of the difficulties, they succeeded."
From Middle English despit, from Old French despit ("scorn, contempt, defiance"), from Latin despectus ("contempt, disdain"), past participle of despicere ("to look down on, despise").
The word 'despite' has been used in English since the 13th century, initially in the sense of 'contempt' and later as a preposition meaning 'in spite of'.
Memory tip
Think of 'despite' as saying 'even though something is true, something else still happened'.