despite,介词，即使;尽管;尽管(自己)不愿意

1.传统的介词功能：

I like him despite his faults.

虽然他有种种缺点，但我仍然喜欢他。

They achieved some victories despite these odds.

尽管受到这些挫折，他们还是取得了一些胜利。

They remain friends despite all their differences.

尽管看法不同，他们还是好朋友。

He was obviously distressed despite being unconscious.

虽然他自己未发觉，但他显然很忧心。

I failed the exam despite studying hard.

尽管努力学习，我还是考试不及格。

The plane took off despite the fog.

尽管有雾，飞机仍照常起飞。

He came to the meeting despite his serious illness.
尽管病的很重，他还是来参加了会议。

Despite wanting to see him again, she refused to reply to his letters.
尽管很想再次见见他，她还是拒绝答复他的信。
Despite strong opposition, the ruling party carried the day.

尽管遭到强烈反对，执政党还是获胜了。

Despite being a big star, she's very approachable.

她虽然是个大明星，却非常平易近人。

Despite months of discussion the negotiations remained deadlocked.

尽管已讨论数月，谈判仍僵持不下。

Despite the lateness of the hour, the children were not in bed.

尽管已是深夜，孩子们仍未就寝。

Despite her handicap, Jane is able to hold down a full-time job.

简尽管有生理缺陷，却能够保住一份全职工作。

Unemployment seems to be rising, despite repeated assurances to the contrary.

尽管反复担保减少失业，失业率看来却在上升。

Despite his six years in politics, he was still regarded by many as the new kid on the block.

他已经从政六年，但很多人仍把他视为初出茅庐。

Despite his cries, no one came to his assistance.

尽管他喊叫，却没有人来帮助他。

Despite her earnest efforts, she could not find a job.

尽管她已尽心竭力，但是仍然找不到工作。

Despite a thorough investigation, no trace of Dr Southwell has been found.

尽管进行了彻底的调查，还是没有发现索思韦尔博士的任何踪迹。
Despite applying for hundreds of jobs, he is still out of work.

尽管他申请了数百个工作，但仍然在失业中。

The building work will go ahead, despite protests from local residents.

尽管当地居民反对，建筑工程将照样进行。

The proposal will go ahead despite strong objections from the public.

尽管公众强烈反对，这项提案仍将付诸实施。

Despite the recession the company is confident of further expansion.

尽管经济衰退，公司对进一步扩展仍充满信心。

Their catering business remained strong despite the recession.

尽管出现经济衰退，他们的酒席承办业仍然景气。

Despite signs of an improvement in the economy, there is no room for complacency.

尽管在经济方面有改善的迹象，但仍不容自满。

Despite his protestation to the contrary, he was extremely tired.

他已筋疲力尽，尽管他极力否认这一点。

Despite the obvious setbacks, it is not all doom and gloom for the England team.

尽管明显受挫，但对英格兰队来说绝非胜利无望。

Despite the threat of war, people went about their business as usual.

虽然战争在即，人们照常忙着自己的事。

She was good at physics despite the fact that she found it boring.

尽管她认为物理枯燥无味，她却学得很好。

Despite the fact that she was wearing a seat belt, she was thrown sharply forward.

尽管她系了安全带，还是被猛然前抛。

2.可以接一个句子：

Despite the power cuts, the hospital continued to function normally.

尽管供电中断，医院继续照常运作。

《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》

Despite what others say, I think he is a good boy.
不管别人说什么，我还是认为他是个好男孩。

3.despite oneself 情不自禁，忍不住，虽然不愿但是仍然做了某事：

He had to laugh despite himself.

他不想笑，但还是忍不住笑了出来。

Despite myself, Harry's remarks had caused me to stop and reflect.

哈里的话让我不由自主地停下来细想。

最后，这个词也可以用词组in despite of替换，但常用in spite of。