Standard Lemma guide

despond

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /dɪˈspɒnd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈdɛspɒnd/ rare, noun usage
  • rhymes with -ɒnd

1

noun

Meaning 1

Despondency.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: despair, desperation, despond, despondency, hopelessness, unhope, wanhope

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to become dejected, lose heart.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • October 16, 1820, Thomas Scott, letter to the Rev. G. Knight, Harwell I should despair, or at least despond.
  • June 17, 1825, Daniel Webster, Speech on the laying of the Corner Stone of the Bunker Hill Monument We wish that [...] desponding patriotism may turn its eyes hitherward, and be assured that foundations of our national power still stand strong.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

lose confidence or hope; become dejected

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The supporters of the Presidential candidate desponded when they learned the early results of the election

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: despair

History

Etymology

From Latin dēspondeō (“give up, abandon”), from dē (“from”) + spondeō (“promise”).

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: падам духом (padam duhom) — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • French: se décourager — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • German: verzagen — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • Ancient Greek: ἀθυμέω (athuméō) — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • Hungarian: csügged — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • Hungarian: elcsügged — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • Portuguese: desesperar-se — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • Turkish: bedbin olmak — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • Turkish: umut kesmek — to give up the will, courage, or spirit
  • Turkish: ümidini kaybetmek — to give up the will, courage, or spirit