despair
dih-SPEH-uh
Despair (noun) means a total loss of hope. Example: “She was filled with despair after losing her job for the third time.”
noun
1
A total loss of hope.
"My daughter's behavior drives me to despair."
"He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive."
"She was filled with despair after losing her job for the third time."
"He stared at the empty field in despair as the storm ruined his crops."
"The team's despair grew with every goal they let in."
verb
1
To lose all hope.
"Don't despair — there's still time to fix this."
"After months without any replies, she began to despair of ever finding work."
"Farmers despaired when the rain still refused to come."
How to use despair
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishComplete hopelessness, or the act of giving up all hope.
Common pairings
a sense of despair
despair of ever
cry of despair
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Word forms
- Plural
- despairs
- Third person singular
- despairs
- Past tense
- despaired
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was filled with _____ after losing her job for the third time.
Etymology
From Old French desperer, from Latin desperare, "to lose hope" — from de- + sperare ("to hope"). Related to "desperate."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for despair
See all rhymes for despair →Frequently asked questions
What does “despair” mean?
The word “despair” means a total loss of hope. In plain terms, complete hopelessness, or the act of giving up all hope.
How do you pronounce “despair”?
“Despair” is pronounced dih-SPEH-uh (/dɪˈspɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “despair” in a sentence?
Here is “despair” used in a sentence: “She was filled with despair after losing her job for the third time.”
What part of speech is “despair”?
Depending on how it is used, “despair” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “despair” come from?
The word “despair” comes from Latin. From Old French desperer, from Latin desperare, "to lose hope" — from de- + sperare ("to hope"). Related to "desperate.".
Is “despair” a common word?
“Despair” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “despair” have?
“Despair” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a total loss of hope.
What is the difference between despair and depression?
Despair refers to a total loss of hope, often triggered by a specific situation, while depression is a broader emotional or clinical state that can include sadness, low energy, and hopelessness over time. Despair can be a feeling within depression, but the two words are not interchangeable.
Is despair a noun or a verb?
Despair functions as both. As a noun it means a total loss of hope, as in "a sense of despair," and as a verb it means to lose all hope, as in "do not despair."
What is the difference between despair and desperation?
Despair centers on hopelessness itself, while desperation implies a state of recklessness or urgency that often results from despair. Someone in despair has given up hope, whereas someone in desperation may still act, often rashly, because of that hopelessness.
