in vain
IdiomsExample Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Opposition, however, has not been in vain, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
But Kaepernick doesn’t leave readers feeling that his work was in vain, or that he is without hope.
From Salon ● Sep. 29, 2026
Jos Buttler's bravery came in vain as Sri Lanka fought back to beat England in the second one-day international at Headingley and set up a series decider at The Oval.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Regardless of reactions from his supporters, Abdurahmanovic said attempts to revise his legacy were in vain.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
Isobel sits in a rarely occupied armchair in the corner of Marco’s flat, a rainbow of silk ribbon twisted around her fingers as she attempts in vain to form it into a single elaborate braid.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
