Vain Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
Britannica Dictionary definition of VAIN
1
[also more vain; most vain]
:
too proud of your own appearance, abilities, achievements, etc.
:
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She is very vain about her appearance.
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He is the vainest man I know.
2
:
having no success
:
not producing a desired result
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They made a vain [=unsuccessful] attempt to escape.
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A vain effort to quell the public's fears only made matters worse.
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Volunteers searched the area in the vain hope of finding clues.
in vain
:
without success
:
without producing a good or desired result
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We searched in vain for the missing earring. [=we searched for the missing earring but did not find it]
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He tried in vain to get the baby to sleep.
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Her suffering will not be in vain. [=something good will happen because of her suffering]
take someone's name in vain
:
to use (a name, especially the name of God) in a way that does not show proper respect
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He took God's name in vain.
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(humorous) I thought I heard someone taking my name in vain. [=saying my name]
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We tried vainly to get a taxi.
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Volunteers vainly searched for clues.