Word adjective
vain
adj.
US /ˈveɪn/ UK /vˈeɪn/ vain
Definition
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
not producing the result you want; useless.
producing no result; useless or lacking in substance or worth.
Simple“The doctors made a vain attempt to save the damaged building after the fire.”
In context“Despite their exhaustive efforts to negotiate a peace treaty, it proved to be a vain hope as fighting resumed within forty-eight hours.”
UsageCommonly found in the phrase 'in vain', meaning without success.
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English veyn, from Old French vain, from Latin vānus (“empty”).
A conversion of the adjectival form of vain. The only use of this verb in English appears c. 1628 in the writings of Owen Felltham.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Latin vānus
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated