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Synonyms

in vain

Idioms  

  1. To no avail, useless, as in All our work was in vain. [c. 1300] Also see take someone's name in vain.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In vain in the end, but not forgotten.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

In vain the kindly call: in vain The plate for which thou once wast fain At morn and noon and daylight’s wane, O King of mousers.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2023

In vain Swann tries to account for Odette’s movements at all times of the day and night.

From Washington Post • Nov. 3, 2022

In vain: Mr Kerry won Pennsylvania, albeit by only 144,000 votes out of almost 5.8m cast.

From Economist • Oct. 18, 2012

In vain I study the three spotted pigs to see which one is sad.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.