vain
[ veyn ]
/ veɪn /
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adjective, vain·er, vain·est.
excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited: a vain dandy.
proceeding from or showing pride in or concern about one's appearance, qualities, etc.; resulting from or displaying vanity: He made some vain remarks about his accomplishments.
ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile: vain hopes; a vain effort; a vain war.
without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless: vain pageantry; vain display.
Archaic. senseless or foolish.
OTHER WORDS FOR vain
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Idioms about vain
- without effect or avail; to no purpose: lives lost in vain; to apologize in vain.
- in an improper or irreverent manner: to take God's name in vain.
in vain,
Origin of vain
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vānus “empty, vain”
synonym study for vain
4. See useless.
OTHER WORDS FROM vain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use vain in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for vain
vain
/ (veɪn) /
adjective
inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements
given to ostentatious display, esp of one's beauty
worthless
senseless or futile
noun
in vain to no avail; fruitlessly
take someone's name in vain
- to use the name of someone, esp God, without due respect or reverence
- jocular to mention someone's name
Derived forms of vain
vainly, adverbvainness, nounWord Origin for vain
C13: via Old French from Latin vānus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Other Idioms and Phrases with vain
vain
see in vain; take someone's name in vain.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.