despite seeking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite seeking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs or is true even though there is an effort or desire to achieve something else. Example: "Despite seeking a promotion, she remained in her current position for another year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

issuer owned by BlackRock, described active E.T.F.'s as "not currently a strategic priority for us," despite seeking approval for quarterly position disclosure.

The New York Times

Despite seeking data from the relevant agencies, Callinan said he could find no evidence that tourist numbers to the precincts had decreased.

The Guardian

One of the plaintiffs, Mary Dandridge, said that "you had to be a member of a certain clique" to be promoted beyond lieutenant, adding that she had been stuck in that rank since 2005, despite seeking out promotions.

The New York Times

From then on, he said, he has lost part of his hearing every day, despite seeking help from what he called "the finest doctors and clinics throughout the country".

The New York Times

Nadal crushed his compatriot Fernando Verdasco on Sunday, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, deseekingeeking treatment for dizziness after returning to the court in the second set after a rain break.

The New York Times - Sports

People living in poverty who are working part-time are more likely than people from other socioeconomic conditions to be doing so involuntarily, despite seeking full-time work (Kim, 1999).

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Despite not seeking the approbation of others, he receives it in spades.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the wrenching correspondence between these two we read the secret that has divided them; a secret that Rivlin, despite his seeking, never does learn.

The New York Times - Books

Yet, the ALP's attempt to portray Marshall as the latest carnation of a "slash and burn" Campbell Newman is failing to stick, despite Marshall seeking advice from neo-liberals such as Jeff Kennett.

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite not seeking a new contract at the time, then-CEO of Def Jam Jay-Z signed Ne-Yo to a new deal after he performed for the label's executives.

Wikipedia

A minimum 3 month usage time was used for care plan study eligibility, but in doing so, despite actively seeking out negative cases, some informative cases in which care plans were not found to be helpful may have been missed.

BMC Pediatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite seeking", ensure the sentence clearly articulates both the action taken (the seeking) and the contrasting result. Clarity helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your message.

Common error

Avoid using "despite seeking" when there isn't a clear contrast between the action of seeking and the outcome. The phrase is effective only when highlighting an unexpected or undesired result in the face of effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite seeking" functions as a concessive prepositional phrase, modifying a clause to indicate that an action or effort does not prevent a particular outcome. It connects two contrasting ideas, highlighting the unexpected nature of the result. The Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite seeking" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to express a contrast between an action and an unexpected result. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness across various contexts. It's common in news and media, as well as scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure a clear contrast is presented. Alternatives include "regardless of looking for" and "even though searching for". It has a neutral register, suitable for both formal and informal use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regardless of looking for

Similar to "despite", but places more emphasis on the lack of impact from the search.

even though searching for

Directly acknowledges the search, but introduces a contrasting outcome.

even when pursuing

Emphasizes the active pursuit of something, with the outcome remaining unchanged.

in spite of the search for

Emphasizes that the search does not prevent a different outcome.

notwithstanding attempts to find

Highlights the attempt to locate or discover something, yet a different result occurs.

in the face of searching for

Indicates a situation where the search is ongoing, but something else happens regardless.

although trying to locate

Highlights the effort made to find, yet something else happen anyway

while endeavoring to find

Focuses on the effort to discover, even as another result emerges.

yet searching for

Highlights that the search doesn't change a certain outcome.

with the pursuit of

Highlights the active chasing of something, with the outcome remaining unchanged.

FAQs

How to use "despite seeking" in a sentence?

Use "despite seeking" to show a contrast between an effort or attempt to find something and the actual outcome. For example, "Despite seeking a promotion, she remained in her current role."

What can I say instead of "despite seeking"?

You can use alternatives like "regardless of looking for", "even though searching for", or "in spite of the search for" depending on the context.

Is "despite seeking" formal or informal?

"Despite seeking" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the writing.

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

"Despite seeking" emphasizes a contrast between the effort and the outcome, while "although seeking" simply introduces a contrasting fact. "Despite" suggests a stronger sense of unexpectedness.