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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.

“To know that it may all have been in vain is heartbreaking,” Mbara said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

At the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, the staff tried in vain to save the program.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

It meant the 35-year-old George was still doing heavy-duty ball carrying in the final five minutes as England chased in vain.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

The last few hours were all in vain.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

When the full light of the morning came no signs of the wolves were to be found, and they looked in vain for the bodies of the dead.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

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.