vain - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

vain

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈveɪn/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/veɪn/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(vān)

Inflections of 'vain' (adj):
vainer
adj comparative
vainest
adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024
vain /veɪn/USA pronunciation   adj., -er, -est. 
  1. overly proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.
  2. ineffectual or unsuccessful;
    useless;
    futile:vain efforts.
Idioms
  1. Idioms in vain:
    • without effect;
      to no purpose:All the work was in vain.
    • in an improper or irreverent manner:to take God's name in vain.

vain•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024
vain (vān),USA pronunciation  adj., -er, -est. 
  1. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.;
    conceited:a vain dandy.
  2. proceeding from or showing personal vanity:vain remarks.
  3. ineffectual or unsuccessful;
    futile:a vain effort.
  4. without real significance, value, or importance;
    baseless or worthless:vain pageantry; vain display.
  5. [Archaic.]senseless or foolish.
  6. in vain:
    • without effect or avail;
      to no purpose:to apologize in vain.
    • in an improper or irreverent manner:to take God's name in vain.
  • Latin vānus empty, vain
  • Old French
  • Middle English 1250–1300
vain′ly, adv. 
vain′ness, n. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged egotistical, self-complacent, vainglorious, proud, arrogant, overweening.
    • 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged fruitless, unavailing.
    • 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged unimportant, trivial, trifling, nugatory. See useless. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged humble.
    • 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged useful.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
vain /veɪn/ adj
  1. inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements
  2. given to ostentatious display, esp of one's beauty
  3. worthless
  4. senseless or futile
 n
  1. in vain ⇒ to no avail; fruitlessly
  2. take someone's name in vain ⇒ jocular to mention someone's name
Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin vānus

ˈvainly adv ˈvainness n
'vain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Ettarre - N'Dour - Pelion - Pinzón - Porsena - Third Commandment - abortive - bark - birth - bloat - bloated - bootless - braggadocio - chimera - conceited - cultus - dream - egotistic - empty - flaunty - fop - forlorn hope - fruitless - frustrate - futile - futilitarian - head - hollow - hot shot - idle - immodest - name - nugatory - otiose - peacock - pomp - pomposity - popinjay - prick - pursy - quiet - self-satisfied - show - show off - strut - stuck-up - swellhead - take - thankless - unfruitful
Collocations: a vain [teenager, model, artist], she is [so, really, extremely] vain, was a rather vain [display, collection, performance], more...

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Look up "vain" at Merriam-Webster
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