Vain Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

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The Britannica Dictionary vain 2 ENTRIES FOUND:

• vain (adjective)
• name (noun)

vain /ˈveɪn/ adjective vainer; vainest vain /ˈveɪn/ adjective vainer; vainest Britannica Dictionary definition of VAIN 1 [also more vain; most vain] : too proud of your own appearance, abilities, achievements, etc. : conceited

• She is very vain about her appearance.
• He is the vainest man I know.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 2 : having no success : not producing a desired result

• They made a vain [=unsuccessful] attempt to escape.
• A vain effort to quell the public's fears only made matters worse.
• Volunteers searched the area in the vain hope of finding clues.

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in vain

: without success : without producing a good or desired result

• We searched in vain for the missing earring. [=we searched for the missing earring but did not find it]
• He tried in vain to get the baby to sleep.
• Her suffering will not be in vain. [=something good will happen because of her suffering]

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take someone's name in vain

: to use (a name, especially the name of God) in a way that does not show proper respect

• He took God's name in vain.
• (humorous) I thought I heard someone taking my name in vain. [=saying my name]

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— vainly

adverb

• We tried vainly to get a taxi.
• Volunteers vainly searched for clues.

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