English dictionary

despair Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the plural of despair?

The plural of despair is despairs.

Q: What is the past tense of despair?

The past tense of despair is despaired. The present participle is despairing.

/dɪˈspɛə(ɹ)/

What Does Despair Mean?

Despair is used as a verb meaning To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of. It is also used to mean To cause to despair. As a noun, it means Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency. As a noun, it means That which is despaired of.

Quick Facts About Despair

Part of speech	verb, noun
Pronunciation	//dɪˈspɛə(ɹ)//
Syllables	1
Synonyms	desperation, despondency and hopelessness
Antonyms	hope
Plural	despairs
Verb forms	despairs, despairing, despaired

Despair Definition (Verb)

To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
To cause to despair.
To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation. [ with of]

Despair as a Noun

Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive.
That which causes despair.
That which is despaired of. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Noun

That which is despaired of.

Verb

(often with “of”) To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.

Synonyms of Despair

desperation despondency hopelessness

Despair synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Despair

hope

Despair in a Sentence

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

My daughter's behavior drives me to despair.

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

Word Forms & Grammar

despair (third-person singular simple present despairs, present participle despairing, simple past and past participle despaired)

despair (countable and uncountable, plural despairs)

Words That Rhyme With Despair

glare debonair bare declare affair flare fair welfare aware air square fare unaware blare flair threadbare rare snare spare impair prepare repair ensnare nightmare lair castle in the air tear err wear ware

Origin of Despair

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”).

Despair Pronunciation

You say despair as //dɪˈspɛə(ɹ)//. It has 1 syllable.

Quick Answers About Despair

Is despair a verb or a noun?

Despair is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.

What is another word for despair?

Close synonyms of despair are desperation, despondency and hopelessness. See the full list of despair synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of despair?

The opposite of despair is hope.

What is the plural of despair?

The plural of despair is despairs.

What is the past tense of despair?

The past tense of despair is despaired. The present participle is despairing.