vain

[[t]ve͟ɪn[/t]]

vainer, vainest

1) ADJ: ADJ n A vain attempt or action is one that fails to achieve what was intended.

The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule...

I was singing in a vain effort to cheer him up.

Syn:

fruitless

Derived words:

vainly ADV ADV with v

He hunted vainly through his pockets for a piece of paper.

2) ADJ: ADJ n If you describe a hope that something will happen as a vain hope, you mean that there is no chance of it happening.

He married his fourth wife, Susan, in the vain hope that she would improve his health.

Derived words:

vainly ADV ADV with v

He then set out for Virginia for what he vainly hoped would be a peaceful retirement.

3) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you describe someone as vain, you are critical of their extreme pride in their own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities.

I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy.

Syn:

conceited

4) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR If you do something in vain, you do not succeed in achieving what you intend.

He stopped at the door, waiting in vain for her to acknowledge his presence...

It became obvious that all her complaints were in vain.

5) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR If you say that something such as someone's death, suffering, or effort was in vain, you mean that it was useless because it did not achieve anything.

He wants the world to know his son did not die in vain.