regardless

regardless — adverb

1. without letting problems, objections, or unfavorable conditions stop you from do

1.adverbB1
Definition

without letting problems, objections, or unfavorable conditions stop you from doing something or change what happens

Example

Most of the staff opposed the new policy, but the CEO implemented it regardless.

contrastive structure with but + clause-final regardless

Niran had never climbed a mountain before, yet he joined the expedition regardless.

Common collocations
  • carry on regardless
  • continue regardless
  • proceed regardless
  • go ahead regardless
  • act regardless
Synonyms
  • nevertheless

    more formal; common in academic and professional writing

  • anyway

    informal; common in everyday conversation

  • nonetheless

    formal; often used in legal and official contexts

  • still

    neutral; can appear mid-clause rather than at the end

Antonyms
  • accordingly

    doing something because of circumstances rather than despite them

Grammar Patterns

used at the end of a clause after a contrast

as a sentence adverb at the start or end of a statement

Usage Note

Frequently signals a contrast between an obstacle and an action that continues despite it. The obstacle typically appears in the first clause, introduced by 'but', 'yet', or 'although', and 'regardless' closes the second clause.

Common Mistakes

Irregardless of what you think, I am going.
Regardless of what you think, I am going.
'irregardless' is nonstandard; use 'regardless'.
He finished the race regardless the pain.
He finished the race regardless of the pain.
as an adverb, 'regardless' does not take a direct object; use 'regardless of' before a noun phrase.

regardless — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words convey that something happens or is true despite obstacles, but they differ in register and grammatical position. 'Regardless' focuses on the agent's active refusal to let obstacles stop them — it carries a sense of willpower. 'Nevertheless' and 'nonetheless' are formal and typically open a sentence or clause; they state a fact despite a preceding contrary fact. 'Anyway' is informal and often closes a statement ('I went anyway'). 'Still' is neutral and tends to appear mid-clause ('She still went'). Compare: 'The boss rejected the proposal; nevertheless, the team presented it again. They were determined, so they tried anyway. They still believed in the idea. And one member funded the next attempt regardless.'

nevertheless ↗anywaynonetheless ↗still ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • regardless of

Phrases

  • carry on regardless
  • regardless of whether

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in late Middle English from 'regard' (to look at, pay attention to) plus the suffix '-less' (without). The original meaning was 'without regard or consideration'. The adverb use — acting without being stopped by difficulties — developed in the 1800s as a shortening of 'regardless of' phrases.