Meaning & use
despite
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Meaning
preposition
used to show that something happens or is true even though there is a reason it might not
Grammar: Followed directly by a noun, pronoun, or -ing form, not by 'of' or a clause: despite the rain, despite being tired.
Patterns
- despite something
- despite doing something
- despite the fact that ...
Despite the heavy traffic, we arrived on time.
She went to work despite feeling ill.
Despite his young age, he is very responsible.
Common combinations
- despite the fact that
- Despite the fact that it was raining, we decided to walk.
- despite everything
- Despite everything, they remained good friends.
- despite oneself
- She smiled despite herself.
Synonyms and how they differ
- in spite of
- Same meaning, but 'in spite of' is slightly more formal and always followed by a noun or -ing form; 'despite' is more common in writing.
- notwithstanding
- Very formal and often used in legal or official texts; 'despite' is the everyday choice.
- regardless of
- Focuses on ignoring the condition completely, while 'despite' simply contrasts two facts.
Opposites
Commonly confused: despite or although? despite or in spite of?
despite vs although
Although introduces a clause with a subject and verb (although it rained), while despite is followed by a noun or -ing form (despite the rain).
despite vs in spite of
Learners often write 'despite of', which is wrong. Use 'despite' alone or 'in spite of'.
Practice
_______ the bad weather, the picnic was a success.
Choose one answer.
Despite is correct because it is followed directly by a noun phrase (the bad weather). 'Despite of' is never used; 'although' would need a clause (although the weather was bad); 'however' is an adverb and cannot introduce this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “despite”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.