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⇱ vain - WordReference.com English Collocations

vain

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈveɪn/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/veɪn/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(vān)

Inflections of 'vain' (adj):
vainer
adj comparative
vainest
adj superlative

Collocations for "vain"


Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "vain" in context.

WordReference English Collocations © 2026

vain

ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.
adj
  1. a vain [teenager, model, artist]
  2. she is [so, really, extremely] vain
  3. was a rather vain [display, collection, performance]
  4. would be vain to [think, ask, attempt]
  5. vain [postures, remarks, poses, comments]
  6. vain [efforts, hopes, attempts] (to)
  7. [killed, failed] in a vain effort to
  8. [lives, has] a vain existence
adv
  1. (all) our [efforts] were in vain
  2. the [rescue mission, search] was (all) in vain
  3. [said, done, made] in vain
  4. [fought, battled, searched] in vain
  5. took [her, God's] name in vain
  6. don't take [God's] name in vain
'vain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "vain" in the title:

...found them all [void and vain] - English Only forum
'Because of pleading in vain ....' vs 'Having pleaded in vain ....' - English Only forum
'Twas vain, in holy ground - English Only forum
“ God in vain forced to confront his own pride, his own anger and shame” - English Only forum
a more vain and absurd animal than you - English Only forum
a vain lot - English Only forum
All has/have turned to vain ambition - English Only forum
All my efforts went in vain. - English Only forum
Are "vain and vein" pronounced in the same way? - English Only forum
Arrogant / snooty / vain / pompous / bombastic - English Only forum
Be more vain - English Only forum
be vain about something - English Only forum
be vain of his hair - English Only forum
Beating the wind—in vain - English Only forum
by glorifying the pharisee with his vain - English Only forum
Can (nonsense) mean (in vain)? - English Only forum
comma before and after 'and' [conjunction]: was in vain and as I - English Only forum
comma before but [tried hard .., but in vain]. - English Only forum
Conceited / Vain - English Only forum
Dead and too vain, we don't across out of any where - English Only forum
Each night the man returned to his cabin, sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. - English Only forum
engage in (a) vain /(an) idle gossip. [article] - English Only forum
feel pity if all my effort went in vain - English Only forum
feeling the vain, useless weight of importance for the first time - English Only forum
For nothing / In vain - English Only forum
For nothing: in vain, uselessly [American English] - English Only forum
gave battle in vain - English Only forum
Have been waiting in vein for ... [vain] - English Only forum
have one's own vain glory for something - English Only forum
his vain mustache - English Only forum
more...
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