Vain Definition

vān
vainest, vainer
adjective
vainest, vainer
Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless.
A vain attempt.
American Heritage
Having no real value or significance; worthless, empty, idle, hollow, etc.
Vain pomp.
Webster's New World
Lacking substance or worth.
Vain talk.
American Heritage
Without force or effect; futile, fruitless, unprofitable, unavailing, etc.
A vain endeavor.
Webster's New World
Having or showing an excessively high regard for one's self, looks, possessions, ability, etc.; indulging in or resulting from personal vanity; conceited.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
idiom
in vain
  • To no avail; without success:

    Our labor was in vain.

  • In an irreverent or disrespectful manner:

    took the Lord's name in vain.

American Heritage
in vain
  • fruitlessly; vainly
  • lightly; profanely; irreverently
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Vain

Adjective

Base Form:
vain
Comparative:
vainer
Superlative:
vainest

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Vain

Origin of Vain

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin vānus empty euə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English, from Old French vain, from Latin vānus (“empty")

    From Wiktionary

Vain Sentence Examples

  • The child tried in vain to keep up.

  • He tried in vain to stop the water flow.

  • The proprietors struggled in vain to bring about a closer union.

  • The convict tried in vain to escape several times from prison.

  • Let's not let Carlo's death be in vain.

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Words Starting With

VVAVAI

Words Ending With

NINAIN

Unscrambles

vain

Words Starting With V and Ending With N

Starts With V & Ends With NStarts With VA & Ends With NStarts With V & Ends With IN

Word Length

4 Letter Words4 Letter Words Starting With V4 Letter Words Ending With N