vain

[veyn]

adjective

vainer, vainest 

1. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited.

   a vain dandy.

   Synonyms: overweening, arrogant, proud, vainglorious, self-complacent, egotistic
   Antonyms: humble

2. proceeding from or showing pride in or concern about one's appearance, qualities, etc.; resulting from or displaying vanity.

   He made some vain remarks about his accomplishments.

3. ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile.

   vain hopes;

   a vain effort;

   a vain war.

   Synonyms: unavailing, fruitless
   Antonyms: useful

4. without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless.

   vain pageantry;

   vain display.

   Synonyms: nugatory, trifling, trivial

5. Archaic.,  senseless or foolish.

vain

/ veɪn /

adjective

1. inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements

2. given to ostentatious display, esp of one's beauty

3. worthless

4. senseless or futile

noun

1. to no avail; fruitlessly

2. 1. to use the name of someone, esp God, without due respect or reverence

   2. humorous,  to mention someone's name

Other Word Forms

• vainly adverb
• vainness noun
• unvain adjective
• unvainness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vain¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vānus “empty, vain”

Word History and Origins

Origin of vain¹

C13: via Old French from Latin vānus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in vain,

   1. without effect or avail; to no purpose.

      lives lost in vain;

      to apologize in vain.

   2. in an improper or irreverent manner.

      to take God's name in vain.

see in vain; take someone's name in vain.

Synonym Study

See useless.

Example Sentences

Van Veen's hard work looked to be in vain as he missed five match darts, but Humphries was equally wasteful and fell to a fourth consecutive loss to the Dutchman.

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"Unless lessons are learned, and fundamental change is implemented in Northern Ireland, the human and financial cost and sacrifice of the Covid-19 pandemic will have been in vain."

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The twins were as bad-tempered and cruel as Veronika was vain and insincere.

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That the wood looked suspiciously like the remains of a ruler Penelope had searched for in vain just the other day was a fact she chose to ignore.

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As for Penelope, even as she jogged along, trying in vain to keep the galloping children in sight, the “do not think of elk” principle was in full force.

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Related Words

• frivolous 
• fruitless 
• petty 
• trivial