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.
But Kaepernick doesn’t leave readers feeling that his work was in vain, or that he is without hope.
From Salon ● Sep. 29, 2026
Connor's sensational 40/20 with two minutes remaining ultimately was in vain as Palasia's ball-carrying arm had already hit the floor in the build-up.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
Regardless of reactions from his supporters, Abdurahmanovic said attempts to revise his legacy were in vain.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
Her shower not only was disrupted, but it was in vain because Basu started to sweat immediately.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
The fetterlings snapped in vain at my creation.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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.
