futile
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
having no chance of success; a waste of time because it will not work.
incapable of producing a desired result; pointlessly ineffective or doomed to failure.
Simple“It was futile to try and keep the sand out of the tent during the storm.”
In context“The rescue team realized that further searching was futile given the deteriorating weather conditions and the lack of survival equipment.”
UsageOften follows 'it is' or 'it proved' to describe an attempt or effort.
- 02 C1 Advanced
not important or not serious; silly.
lacking in importance, substance, or seriousness; frivolous in nature.
Simple“They spent the afternoon in futile talk about celebrities instead of working.”
In context“The judge dismissed the case, describing the plaintiff's arguments as futile and a waste of the court's time.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is less common than the 'useless' sense; in modern English, 'frivolous' is usually preferred for this meaning.
SynonymsAntonyms
From Middle French futile, from Latin fūtilis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.