in vain

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

"Everything she fought for was not in vain," she added, noting that she "broke down" when she heard the news at work.

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The decision marks a final fall from grace for Andrew, who had held out in vain for a royal rehabilitation.

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He can boast about tariffs all he wants, but he shouldn’t get away with taking Reagan’s trade beliefs in vain.

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"We kept losing wickets at crucial times," admitted Bangladesh skipper Sultana, whose fighting 77 was in vain as her side were eliminated.

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"We waited for two years, and really hoped he would come home -- but in vain," his cousin Kishor Joshi told AFP.

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Related Words

• fruitless 
• hollow 
• impractical 
• ineffective 
• ineffectual 
• insufficient 
• trivial 
• unproductive 
• unprofitable 
• unsuccessful 
• useless 
• vain 
• worthless