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⇱ in vain - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
vain /veɪn/USA pronunciation   adj., -er, -est. 
  1. overly proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.
  2. ineffectual or unsuccessful;
    useless;
    futile:vain efforts.
Idioms
  1. Idioms in vain:
    • without effect;
      to no purpose:All the work was in vain.
    • in an improper or irreverent manner:to take God's name in vain.

vain•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
vain (vān),USA pronunciation 
  1. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.;
    conceited:a vain dandy.
  2. proceeding from or showing personal vanity:vain remarks.
  3. ineffectual or unsuccessful;
    futile:a vain effort.
  4. without real significance, value, or importance;
    baseless or worthless:vain pageantry; vain display.
  5. [Archaic.]senseless or foolish.
  6. in vain:
    • without effect or avail;
      to no purpose:to apologize in vain.
    • in an improper or irreverent manner:to take God's name in vain.
  • Latin vānus empty, vain
  • Old French
  • Middle English 1250–1300
vain′ly, adv. 
vain′ness, n. 
    1. egotistical, self-complacent, vainglorious, proud, arrogant, overweening. 3. fruitless, unavailing. 4. unimportant, trivial, trifling, nugatory. See useless. 
    1. humble. 3. useful.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
vain /veɪn/ adj
  1. inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements
  2. given to ostentatious display, esp of one's beauty
  3. worthless
  4. senseless or futile
 n
  1. in vain ⇒ to no avail; fruitlessly
  2. take someone's name in vain ⇒ jocular to mention someone's name
Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin vānusˈvainly adv ˈvainness n
'in vain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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

'Because of pleading in vain ....' vs 'Having pleaded in vain ....'
'Twas vain, in holy ground
“ God in vain forced to confront his own pride, his own anger and shame”
All my efforts went in vain.
Are "vain and vein" pronounced in the same way?
Beating the wind—in vain
Can (nonsense) mean (in vain)?
comma before and after 'and' [conjunction]: was in vain and as I
comma before but [tried hard .., but in vain].
Each night the man returned to his cabin, sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
engage in (a) vain /(an) idle gossip. [article]
feel pity if all my effort went in vain
For nothing / In vain
For nothing: in vain, uselessly [American English]
gave battle in vain
Have been waiting in vein for ... [vain]
hold in fat in vain
I'll not have the Lord's name taken in vain in my prison.
I’ve spent several hours already trying to make a point to him, but it all is in vain!
If I fooled around now, all of my past efforts would have been in vain.
in a vain attempt
in a vain hope
in a vain shadow
in his presence every effort to [sustain or follow] any other became vain
in order not to put his sacrifice in vain
in the vain hope of
In this vain
in vain
in vain
in vain (used colloquially)
more...

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