despite

Pronunciation: /dɪˈspaɪt/

preposition

Definition of despite

Without being affected by; in spite of

Synonyms for despite

  • in spite of
  • notwithstanding
  • regardless of

despite in a Sentence

  1. Despite the economic downturn, the company managed to increase its profits.

Why despite Matters for GRE & SAT

"despite" is a preposition that means "Without being affected by; in spite of" closely related to words like "in spite of", "notwithstanding", "regardless of". As a word starting with D, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "despite" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "despite" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (preposition). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "despite" into long-term memory.

How to Remember despite

One effective way to remember "despite" (preposition) is to group it with similar words you already know: "in spite of" and "notwithstanding" and "regardless of". When you encounter "despite" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "Without being affected by; in spite of".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "despite" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

  • daunting — scary or frightening; (of a task) seeming impossible
  • dawdle — move slowly and without purpose
  • dearth — A scarcity or lack of something
  • debate — A formal discussion on a particular topic
  • debilitate — To make someone weak and infirm

More Vocabulary Words Starting with D

  • daunting — scary or frightening; (of a task) seeming impossible
  • daunting — scary or frightening; (of a task) seeming impossible
  • dawdle — move slowly and without purpose
  • dawdle — move slowly and without purpose
  • dearth — A scarcity or lack of something
  • dearth — lack of something in a particular area
  • dearth — lack of something in a particular area
  • debate — A formal discussion on a particular topic
  • debate — A formal discussion on a particular topic
  • debilitate — To make someone weak and infirm

Learned in