What Does “Despair of sth” Mean?
“Despair of sth” means to lose hope or confidence in something. It describes a feeling of giving up on a particular situation or outcome.
Introduction
The phrase “despair of sth” is commonly used in English to express a loss of hope or faith in something specific. When someone despairs of a situation, they stop believing that things will improve or turn out well. Understanding the “despair of sth meaning” helps learners recognize when people feel hopeless about challenges like an exam, a relationship, or a project. This phrase is often used in both spoken and written English to convey strong emotions. Knowing how to use “despair of sth” correctly can improve your communication, especially when describing difficult moments.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: despair of sth (despair of something)
- Type: Intransitive with preposition
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To lose hope or confidence in something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Despair of sth” is an inseparable phrase. The verb “despair” is followed by the preposition “of” and then the object (something you lose hope in).
Pattern: despair + of + noun/pronoun
Example: She despairs of finding a solution.
How to Use “Despair of sth”?
Use “despair of sth” to express losing hope about a specific thing or event. It is often followed by a noun or noun phrase. The phrase is typically used with negative or difficult situations.
- Talk about situations you feel hopeless about.
- Express frustration or sadness when things seem impossible.
- Use it in formal or informal contexts.
Examples
- After many failed attempts, he began to despair of passing the exam.
- We should not despair of the project, even if it looks difficult now.
- She despairs of ever finding true love.
- Many people despair of the current political situation.
- Don’t despair of the weather; it might clear up later.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I despair about the test results.
- Correct: I despair of the test results.
- Incorrect: He despairs in his job.
- Correct: He despairs of his job.
The preposition after “despair” should always be “of,” not “about” or “in.”
Differences / Synonyms
Despair of sth means losing hope in something specific.
Give up on sth means stopping trying or believing in something, which is similar but less emotional.
Lose hope in sth is a direct synonym but less formal than “despair of.”
Unlike “despair of,” phrases like “give up on” can be used more broadly and casually.
Common Collocations
- despair of success
- despair of love
- despair of the future
- despair of change
- despair of the situation
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of despair of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I’ve been trying to fix my computer for hours, but it won’t work.
Ben: Don’t despair of it yet. Maybe a professional can help.
Anna: I hope so. I’m starting to lose hope.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) She despairs about her job.
- b) She despairs of her job.
- c) She despairs in her job.
Answer: b) She despairs of her job.
FAQs
- What does “despair of sth” mean? It means to lose hope or confidence in something.
- Can “despair of” be used with people? Usually, it is used with situations or things, not directly with people.
- Is “despair of” formal or informal? It is more formal but can be used in everyday speech.
- What preposition follows “despair”? Always use “of” after “despair.”
- Is “despair of” the same as “give up on”? They are similar, but “despair of” expresses stronger hopelessness.
