despite
[ dih-spahyt ]
/ dɪˈspaɪt /
preposition
in spite of; notwithstanding.
noun
contemptuous treatment; insult.
malice, hatred, or spite.
verb (used with object), de·spit·ed, de·spit·ing.
Obsolete. to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.
VIDEO FOR DESPITE
WATCH NOW: What's The Difference Between "Spite" And "Despite"?
If you cut off your nose despite your face, that’s like lopping off your schnoz without any regard to your face. But if you cut off your nose to spite your face, you’re doing because you’re so mad at it. So which is it?
QUIZZES
IS YOUR VOCABULARY AS STRONG AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT? TRY THIS QUIZ TO SEE!
It may seem like fun and games but this quiz that uses vocab from popular stories will determine how much you know.
Question 1 of 10
disgruntle
Idioms for despite
in despite of, in spite of; notwithstanding: He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.
Origin of despite
1250–1300; originally in despite of;Middle English despit from Old French from Latin dēspectus “view from a height, scorn,” equivalent to dēspec-, variant stem of dēspicere (see despicable) + -tus suffix of verbal action
synonym study for despite
1. See notwithstanding.
Words nearby despite
desperado, desperate, desperation, despicable, despise, despite, despiteful, despiteous, Des Plaines, despoil, despoliation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for despite
British Dictionary definitions for despite
despite
/ (dɪˈspaɪt) /
preposition
in spite of; undeterred by
noun
archaic contempt; insult
in despite of (preposition) rare in spite of
verb
(tr) an archaic word for spite
Word Origin for despite
C13: from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectus contempt; see despise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012