despite

USAGE SUMMARY

“Despite” is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used to introduce a phrase or clause that indicates contrast or adversity, often with a sense of resolution. Example sentence: Despite the difficulties he had faced, he was determined to succeed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So I don't support gay marriage despite being a Conservative.

The Economist

The need to introduce residence permits to restrict access to public services and welfare benefits for new migrants stems from the simple fact that despite the Home Office's £800m "e-borders" project nobody's passport is stamped with the date they entered Britain.

The Guardian

Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, said it was "ironic to say the least" that Russia produced the motion at the same time as it was "backing an all-out assault" in Ukraine despite the ceasefire.

The Guardian

That flight is only about half the price ($186), despite its being more than double the distance.

The New York Times - Magazine

At the time, players were allowed, but not required, to wear helmets, and most players chose to go helmet-less, despite the risk of severe head trauma.

The Economist

Despite the president's deliberate attempt to talk down the markets and the media's dramatic warnings of economic Armageddon posed by a mere 17% of the government remaining temporarily idle, the S&P 500 closed at a record high the day after the shutdown ended.

The Guardian - Opinion

By the time the war started, though, he was a country landowner, aged 48: despite his age, he was keen to be involved.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Despite the UK's improved performance recently, selling scripted formats to US broadcasters remains a high risk gamble.

The Guardian

Despite the extraordinary welling up of outrage around the Davis execution, prisoners have continued to be executed steadily over the past 12 months.

The Guardian

To date the politician – one of Greece's canniest operators – has managed to maintain approval ratings of close to 70% despite rolling back on almost every promise he has made.

The Guardian

If our movie memories weren't Hollywood-skewed, we'd think of Chronicle of the Years of Embers as a classic but, despite winning the Palme d'or in Cannes in 1975, Mohammad Lakhdar-Hamina's film has fallen into the shadows.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite", ensure that the clause following it clearly contrasts with the main clause to create a meaningful connection between the two ideas.

Common error

Avoid combining "despite" with other conjunctions like "but" or "although". "Despite" already implies a contrast, so adding another conjunction creates redundancy and weakens the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "despite" is that of a preposition. It introduces a noun phrase or gerund that presents a contrasting element to the main clause. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread usage in this manner.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Despite" is a preposition used to express contrast or concession. It's grammatically correct and very common, as confirmed by Ludwig. When using "despite", ensure a clear contrast with the main clause, and avoid redundant conjunctions. Semantically similar alternatives include "in spite of" and "notwithstanding". Ludwig's examples demonstrate its prevalence in news and media, highlighting its versatility in conveying opposition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of

Replaces "despite" with a slightly more formal alternative, maintaining the same meaning.

notwithstanding

A more formal and literary synonym for "despite", used to introduce a contrasting element.

even though

Introduces a subordinate clause expressing contrast, similar to "despite".

although

Another conjunction introducing a contrasting clause, comparable to "despite".

regardless of

Emphasizes that something happens irrespective of a particular circumstance, akin to "despite".

irrespective of

Similar to "regardless of", stressing that something occurs without being affected by something else.

even if

Expresses a condition that does not prevent something else from happening, comparable to "despite".

with all that

An informal way of introducing a contrast, similar in effect to "despite".

for all that

Another informal alternative, indicating that something is true in spite of something else.

in the face of

Highlights the presence of adversity or difficulty, similar to the context of "despite".

FAQs

How to use "despite" in a sentence?

Use "despite" to introduce a fact that makes the main clause of your sentence surprising. For example, "Despite the rain, we enjoyed our picnic".

What can I say instead of "despite"?

You can use alternatives like "in spite of", "notwithstanding", or "even though" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "despite" or "in spite of"?

"Despite" and "in spite of" are both correct and have very similar meanings. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic variation.

What's the difference between "despite" and "although"?

"Despite" is a preposition, requiring a noun phrase after it (e.g., "despite the difficulty"). "Although" is a conjunction, requiring a full clause (e.g., "although it was difficult").