Used before a noun or noun phrase to show that something happens even though there is a reason it might not.
“Despite the harsh winter, the construction project was completed on schedule.”
“Despite limited funding, the community program continued to serve hundreds of families.”
In Part 3 articles, "despite" is often followed by a challenge or obstacle and then a surprising outcome, a common pattern in paragraphs describing achievements or unexpected results. Look for it when a question asks about something that succeeded against odds. Because it's followed directly by a noun rather than a full clause, noticing this grammar can help you quickly locate the matching detail in a long paragraph.
Synonyms: in spite of, regardless of, notwithstanding