despair

CEFRB1

/dɪˈspɛə(ɹ)/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A complete loss of hope.

  2. 02

    verb

    To lose all hope.

Examples

  • She was filled with despair after losing her dream job.

  • The leader gave up the plan in despair.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
4
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /dɪˈspeː(ɹ)/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.

  2. To cause to despair.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.

More examples

In context

  • You left me in despair.

  • He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive.

  • My daughter's behavior drives me to despair.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

After losing his job, he fell into deep blank and could not see a way out.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”). See also desperate. Displaced native Old English ormōdnes (“despair”) and Old English ortrīewan (“to despair”).