preposition
despite
dih-SPYT
preposition
1
Without being prevented by; even though something might suggest otherwise.
"Despite the rain, the match went ahead."
"She passed the exam despite having barely studied."
How to Use Despite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to introduce something that doesn't stop the main statement from being true.
Common mistake
Never follow "despite" with "of" — say "despite the weather," not "despite of the weather" (that's "in spite of").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
despite the fact that
despite this
despite having
Word Forms
despited past tense, despites plural, despites singular
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_____ the rain, the match went ahead.
Etymology
From Old French despit, from Latin despectus, "a looking down on" — from despicere, "to despise". The preposition grew out of the phrase "in despite of".