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单词 in vain
释义

Trends of
in vain

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in vain

phrase
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.
Synonyms: uselessly, to no avail, unsuccessfully, fruitlessly More Synonyms of in vain
See full dictionary entry for vain

in vain

phrase
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.
See full dictionary entry for vain

in vain in British English

to no avail; fruitlessly
See full dictionary entry for vain

in vain in American English

1. 
fruitlessly; vainly
2. 
lightly; profanely; irreverently
See full dictionary entry for vain

Examples of 'in vain' in a sentence
in vain

It finally seems clear that the high price tag of the experiment won’t be in vain.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Instead, he scanned the front bench in vain for a spare plot of green leather.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All those years of suffering and shame weren't in vain.
The Sun (2016)
I hope their sacrifices have not been in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They hunted for five days in vain so the owner emailed car park firms, but to no avail.
The Sun (2017)
I paid for investigators in Thailand but in vain.
The Sun (2016)
People looking for villains will search, mostly, in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Ask about his father, they say, whose approval he sought in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Year 9 pupil was taken to hospital where doctors spent four days battling in vain to save him.
The Sun (2016)
We know that their deaths were not in vain.
The Sun (2009)
But so far their attempts have been in vain.
The Sun (2010)
Miles will not have died in vain.
The Sun (2016)
Politicians love to try to define their opponents and the attempt is always in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
When they finally realise such efforts are in vain they fulfil them by rote through gritted teeth.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Did all those mackerel die in vain?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
His wife and the villagers try in vain to bring him back to health and sanity.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But we need to keep going to support him so that he did not die in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Now we know these efforts were not in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But your efforts will be in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But he was watching from the bench as his superstar understudy tried in vain to recapture past glories.
The Sun (2014)
Yet you would search in vain for a person who more sharply belied the image of idle arrogance this conveys.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Where we are is where we are, but the deaths are not in vain.
The Sun (2010)
Don't let his death be in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But he can perhaps gain comfort from his son's death not being in vain.
The Sun (2015)
So perhaps she didn't die in vain.
The Sun (2012)
Last year 1,000 people died having waited in vain for a transplant.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This would have made the sacrifices of Germany all in vain.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Was her death in vain?
The Sun (2009)
 Attempts were made in vain to match DNA with thousands of bodies.
The Sun (2006)
And he could well be assigning them another fortnight's worth of studies as he attempts in vain to sort out his bunch of donkeys.
The Sun (2015)
Promotion will be easier next year with a single TV broadcaster but this element will probably go down as an admirable attempt in vain.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)

Chinese translation of 'in vain'

in vain

  1. 徒然 (túrán)
See vain (sense 2)

Nearby words of
in vain

  • in turn
  • in two weeks' time
  • in uniform
  • in vain
  • in view of the weather/the fact that ...
  • in violation of
  • in wartime

Related terms of
in vain

  • to die in vain
1 (phrase) 
Definition
without achieving the desired effects or results
All her complaints were in vain.
Synonyms
useless
He realised that their money was useless in this country.
to no avail
unsuccessful
a second unsuccessful operation on his knee
fruitless
It was a fruitless search.
wasted
I'm sorry you had a wasted journey.
vain
They worked all night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
ineffectual
the well-meaning but ineffectual jobs programs of the past
without success
to no purpose
bootless
2 (phrase) 
Definition
without achieving the desired effects or results
The children tried in vain to climb the apple tree.
Synonyms
uselessly
to no avail
unsuccessfully
fruitlessly
vainly
ineffectually
without success
to no purpose
bootlessly
See vain

Additional synonyms

in the sense of bootless
Definition
of little or no use
Synonyms
useless,
vain,
unsuccessful,
ineffective,
futile,
fruitless,
to no avail,
unavailing,
profitless
in the sense of fruitless
Definition
producing nothing of value
It was a fruitless search.
Synonyms
useless,
vain,
unsuccessful,
in vain,
pointless,
futile,
unproductive,
abortive,
to no avail,
ineffectual,
unprofitable,
to no effect,
unavailing,
unfruitful,
profitless,
bootless
in the sense of ineffectual
Definition
having no effect or an inadequate effect
the well-meaning but ineffectual jobs programs of the past
Synonyms
unproductive,
useless,
ineffective,
vain,
unsuccessful,
pointless,
futile,
fruitless,
to no avail,
unprofitable,
to no effect,
unavailing,
unfruitful,
profitless,
bootless,
inefficacious

Nearby words of
in vain

  • in turmoil
  • in turn
  • in unison
  • in vain
  • in view of
  • in vogue
  • in with

Synonyms of 'in vain'

in vain

Explore 'in vain' in the dictionary

Additional synonyms

in the sense of unsuccessful
Definition
not achieving success
a second unsuccessful operation on his knee
Synonyms
failed,
useless,
ineffective,
vain,
futile,
fruitless,
unproductive,
abortive,
unavailing,
bootless
in the sense of vain
Definition
senseless or unsuccessful
They worked all night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
Synonyms
futile,
useless,
pointless,
unsuccessful,
empty,
hollow,
idle,
trivial,
worthless,
trifling,
senseless,
unimportant,
fruitless,
unproductive,
abortive,
unprofitable,
time-wasting,
unavailing,
nugatory
in the sense of wasted
Definition
unnecessary or unfruitful
I'm sorry you had a wasted journey.
Synonyms
useless,
unnecessary,
pointless,
needless
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更新时间：2025/2/3 13:15:02