used to say that something happens or is true even though another fact makes it surprising or could have stopped it
Despite his bad cold, the boy still rode his bicycle to school.
The family enjoyed their picnic despite the sudden rain shower.
✦ From Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French despit, from Latin dēspicere “to look down on.” Originally a noun meaning “contempt,” it later developed into the preposition used today.
strong dislike, anger, or contempt that you show toward someone or something (archaic or literary)
The knight refused to kneel, acting out of pure despite.
She spoke with open despite for those who had betrayed her trust.
✦ Same origin as the preposition: Middle English despit, from Old French despeit, from Latin dēspicere “to look down on.” Originally the noun form meaning “contempt, scorn.”
