Pronunciation: /dɪˈspɛr/

Definitions of despair

noun the complete loss or absence of hope

Example Sentences

A1 She felt despair when she lost her favorite toy.

A2 The villagers were filled with despair after the flood destroyed their homes.

B1 The diagnosis of a terminal illness can lead to feelings of despair.

B2 Despite facing many challenges, he never gave in to despair.

C1 The artist's work captured the essence of despair in a powerful and moving way.

C2 In the depths of despair, she found the strength to carry on and overcome her obstacles.

verb to lose or be without hope

Example Sentences

A1 She felt despair when she lost her favorite toy.

A2 The team began to despair after losing three games in a row.

B1 He started to despair when he couldn't find a job after months of searching.

B2 The villagers began to despair as the drought continued for months.

C1 Despite facing numerous setbacks, she refused to despair and kept working towards her goals.

C2 The soldier's sense of despair grew as he witnessed the devastation of war firsthand.

Examples of despair in a Sentence

formal The economic downturn led to widespread despair among the population.

informal She was filled with despair after failing her exam.

slang I was in total despair when my phone died during the concert.

figurative The dark clouds of despair loomed over his head as he faced yet another setback.

Grammatical Forms of despair

past tense

despaired

plural

despairs

comparative

more despairing

superlative

most despairing

present tense

despairs

future tense

will despair

perfect tense

have despaired

continuous tense

is despairing

singular

despair

positive degree

despairing

infinitive

to despair

gerund

despairing

participle

despaired

Origin and Evolution of despair

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'despair' originated from the Old French word 'desespoir' which came from the Latin word 'desperare' meaning 'to lose hope'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'despair' has retained its original meaning of a complete loss of hope or confidence, but it has also taken on additional connotations of extreme sadness and hopelessness.