vain

vain — adjective

1. Describes a hope, effort, or attempt that produces no useful result or success,

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Describes a hope, effort, or attempt that produces no useful result or success, no matter how hard one tries.

Example

Despite months of training, Eitan's vain attempt to break the record ended in disappointment.

vain attempt to + infinitive

The rescue team made a vain effort to reach the stranded climbers before the storm.

Common collocations
  • vain attempt
  • vain hope
  • vain effort
  • vain promise
  • vain struggle
Synonyms
  • futile

    More formal; suggests the attempt was doomed from the start

  • pointless

    Less formal; focuses on the lack of purpose rather than the outcome

  • useless

    Very common and broad; can refer to things that are simply not helpful

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

vain + noun (attempt, hope, effort, promise)

prove + vain

be + vain

Usage Note

Most often placed before nouns such as attempt, effort, hope, promise, or struggle. Slightly more formal than 'pointless' or 'useless'.

Common Mistakes

His efforts were vain to save the company.
His efforts to save the company were in vain.
'vain' alone sounds unnatural as a complement before a to-infinitive; use 'in vain' instead.
She did a vain try.
She made a vain attempt.
'vain' does not pair naturally with the noun 'try'; use 'attempt' or 'effort'.

2. Used to say that someone carries out an action with effort or determination but

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Used to say that someone carries out an action with effort or determination but gets no result at all.

Example

Minh searched in vain for the keys he had dropped somewhere in the snowy park.

searched in vain for + noun phrase

The firefighters tried vainly to rescue the cat from the top of the burning warehouse.

Common collocations
  • in vain
  • try in vain
  • search in vain
  • call out in vain
  • plead in vain
  • wait in vain
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + in vain

vainly + verb

be + in vain

Usage Note

This sense appears almost exclusively in the fixed phrase 'in vain' (placed after a verb) or the adverb 'vainly' (before or after a verb). Do NOT use 'vain' alone as an adverb — 'He tried vain' is incorrect.

Common Mistakes

He tried vain.
He tried in vain.' or 'He tried vainly.
'vain' is an adjective and cannot serve as an adverb on its own.
Vainly, his attempts helped nobody.' (ambiguous position)
His attempts vainly helped nobody.
'vainly' usually sounds more natural when placed right before or after the main verb.

3. Believing that your looks, skills, or accomplishments are much better than they

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

Believing that your looks, skills, or accomplishments are much better than they really are, and wanting others to notice and praise you.

Example

Devika's brother was so vain he checked his reflection in every shop window they passed.

so vain that + clause (result pattern)

The actor's vain habit of retaking selfies annoyed the crew during the busy film shoot.

Common collocations
  • vain about
  • vain person
  • vain creature
  • vain woman/man
  • so vain that
Synonyms
  • conceited

    Very close in meaning; slightly more negative and informal

  • narcissistic

    Stronger and more clinical; suggests a personality disorder involving extreme self-focus

  • self-absorbed

    Focuses on being preoccupied with oneself rather than being proud

Antonyms
  • modest

    Does not boast or draw attention to oneself

  • humble

    Shows a realistic or low opinion of one's own importance

Grammar Patterns

be + vain

vain + noun (person)

vain about + noun/gerund

so + vain + that-clause

Usage Note

Commonly describes someone who spends excessive time on appearance or boasts about achievements. Less strong than 'arrogant' — being vain centres on self-image and the need for admiration, whereas arrogance implies a sense of superiority over others.

Common Mistakes

She is vain of her new dress.
She is vain about her appearance.
Use 'about', not 'of', to introduce the object of vanity.
He is a vain person because he won the race.
He became vain after winning the race.
Being vain is a lasting character trait, not a temporary reaction to a single event.
Idioms

in vain

idiom

Without achieving the result that was hoped for, despite putting in effort.

The technicians tried in vain to restart the server before the deadline expired.

She felt that all her years of training were in vain after she lost the final match by one point.

take someone's name in vain

idiom

To use a person's name in a way that shows a lack of respect, often in a joking or critical manner.

The children teased each other by taking the teacher's name in vain when she left the room.

My grandfather joked that the neighbours were taking his name in vain whenever they mentioned his old car.

take somebody’s name in vain

idiom

To use someone's name in a disrespectful or mocking way.

Mia caught her brother taking her name in vain during the argument.

Did you hear Diego taking the teacher's name in vain in the hallway?

Word family

  • vainly
    adverbB2
  • vanity
    nounB2
  • vainglory
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/3

All four words describe a person with an inflated self-regard, but they differ in focus and strength. 'Vain' centres on appearance and the need for admiration — someone vain checks their reflection and craves compliments. 'Conceited' is very close but leans more toward believing one is better than others in ability or worth, not just looks. 'Narcissistic' is much stronger and suggests a clinical pattern of self-centredness and lack of empathy; it goes beyond everyday vanity into personality traits that harm relationships. 'Self-absorbed' describes someone preoccupied with their own world — they may not be proud, just uninterested in others. 'Arrogant' implies a sense of superiority and a dismissive attitude toward others, whereas a vain person mainly wants attention and approval. For everyday criticism of someone who talks too much about their own looks or achievements, 'vain' and 'conceited' are the most natural choices.

conceitednarcissisticself-absorbedarrogant ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'vain' entered English through Old French 'vain' (meaning empty, worthless), which came from Latin 'vanus' (empty, void, lacking substance). The Latin root is related to 'vacuus' (empty), the source of 'vacuum' and 'vacant'. The earliest English sense was 'empty of meaning or value', which later developed into the modern senses: an effort with no substance (futile), and a person full of empty pride (conceited). The idea of a vain person being 'full of emptiness' — proud without real reason — is an ancient metaphor that Latin speakers already used.