1
: having or showing undue or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements : conceited
2
: marked by futility or ineffectualness : unsuccessful, useless
vain efforts to escape
3
: having no real value : idle, worthless
vain pretensions
4
archaic : foolish, silly
vainly adverb
vainness noun
Phrases
in vain
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
Choose the Right Synonym for vain

futile, vain, fruitless mean producing no result.

futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking.

resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left

vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result.

a vain attempt to get the car started

fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.

fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace

Examples of vain in a Sentence

For a half a century, scholars have searched in vain for the source of the jade that the early civilizations of the Americas prized above all else and fashioned into precious objects of worship, trade and adornment. William J. Broad, New York Times, 22 May 2002
… the miseries of people's lives ought not to be exploited ad libitum in the furtherance of our profits or our careers, and in the vain conviction that we understand everything. Richard Taruskin, New Republic, 24 Dec. 2001
It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Where words are scarce, they are seldom spent in vain William Shakespeare, King Richard the Second, 1596
She is very vain about her appearance. He is the vainest man I know. A vain effort to quell the public's fears only made matters worse. Volunteers searched the area in the vain hope of finding clues.
Recent Examples on the Web This reward is coming in from the universe to remind you that all of your inner work has not been done in vain. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 Activists are doubling down on calls for a permanent cease-fire and end to Israeli occupation, invoking Bushnell’s name to demand his death not be in vain. Talia Jane, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 Fascinated by her, Simon persists in trying to create a bond with her, but in vain. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 The terrifying abduction, in addition to being captured on security footage, was witnessed by a man who tried in vain to intervene. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 11 Feb. 2024 Similarly, when our significant other is emotionally triggered, our attempts at crafting a rational argument are likely in vain. Tim Maurer, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 At the 1970 Japan World Exposition, a primitive computer tried—mostly in vain—to match visitors with their celebrity look-alikes. Jesse Barron, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2023 Nevertheless, others have tried, seemingly in vain. Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024 Kira’s legacy After his wife passed away, Charles Johnson pledged her death would not be in vain. Martha Shade, CNN, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English veyn "empty, futile, groundless, foolish, excessively proud," borrowed from Anglo-French vain, vein, going back to Latin vānus "lacking content, empty, illusory, marked by foolish or empty pride" — more at wane entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of vain was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near vain

Cite this Entry

“Vain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vain. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vain

adjective
1
: having no success : useless
a vain attempt to escape
2
: proud of one's looks or abilities
vainly adverb
vainness noun

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