in vain

phrase

1

: to no end : without success or result

her efforts were in vain

2

: in an irreverent or blasphemous manner

Being a religion writer, I have always tried to avoid using the Lord's name in vain. I have not always succeeded.

—Don Lattin

see also take in vain

Examples of in vain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Llínas and his wife, actress Laura Peredas, circle a neighborhood in vain looking for a statue while being pestered by their children. — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026

Faculty and administrators are policing the classroom for AI, largely in vain, while also using AI liberally in their own work. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026

But all of the effort is ultimately in vain, as every worker wasp will eventually perish from starvation or cold weather. — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2026

As Liverpool battled in vain to find a late winner against Forest, Gakpo was as animated as anyone on the touchline after Rio Ngumoha came off the bench to replace him. — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for in vain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign