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Meaning & use

despair

noun, verb·Academic

Last updated

UK/dɪˈspeə/
US/dɪˈsper/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    A complete loss of hope; the feeling that a situation cannot improve.

    Grammar: Uncountable; used with 'in' to describe a state, e.g. 'in despair'.

    Patterns

    • in despair
    • despair at something
    • the depths of despair

    After losing his job, he sank into despair.

    She was in despair when she heard the bad news.

    The team was close to despair after so many defeats.

  2. verbintransitive

    To lose all hope that a situation will improve.

    Grammar: No object; often followed by 'of' or 'at'.

    Patterns

    • despair of something
    • despair at something

    They began to despair of ever finding a solution.

    He despaired at the state of the world.

    Don't despair; things will get better.

Word forms

third person singulardespairs
past tensedespaired
past participledespaired
-ing formdespairing

Common combinations

in despair
She cried out in despair.
sink into despair
He sank into despair after the accident.
despair of
They despaired of ever seeing their home again.
the depths of despair
Even in the depths of despair, she kept writing.

Synonyms and how they differ

hopelessness
Hopelessness is a general feeling of no hope; despair is stronger and often suggests deep emotional suffering.
desperation
Desperation is a feeling that makes you act recklessly; despair is more about giving up hope.

Opposites

hopeoptimism

Word family

despairing adjective
Feeling or showing despair.
despairingly adverb
In a way that shows despair.

Commonly confused: despair or desperation?

despair vs desperation

Desperation is a state of urgent, often reckless need; despair is a loss of hope.

Practice

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