vain

adjective

/veɪn/

Idioms

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that does not produce the result you want synonym useless
- She closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to hold back the tears.
- I knocked loudly in the vain hope that someone might answer.
- The government spent billions in a vain bid to prop up the currency.
Homophones vain | vein
vain vein
/veɪn/

/veɪn/
- vain adjective
  He plunged into the icy water in a vain effort to rescue his dog.
- vein noun
  A vein in her head throbbed when she was angry.
Topics Difficulty and failurec2
(disapproving) too proud of your own appearance, abilities or achievements synonym conceited
- She's too vain to wear glasses.
see also vanity
Extra Examples
- Their flattery made him vain.
- very vain about his looks
- He's so vain!
- I don't think it's vain to care about how you look.
Topics Personal qualitiesc1

Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘without real worth’): via Old French from Latin vanus ‘empty, without substance’.

Idioms

in vain

without success
- They tried in vain to persuade her to go.
- She waited in vain for her son to return.
- All our efforts were in vain.
Topics Difficulty and failurec2

take somebody’s name in vain

to show a lack of respect when using somebody’s name or when talking about them
- (humorous) Have you been taking my name in vain again?
- to take the Lord's name in vain

单词	vain
释义	vain adjective /veɪn/ /veɪn/ Idioms jump to other results that does not produce the result you want synonym useless She closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to hold back the tears. I knocked loudly in the vain hope that someone might answer. The government spent billions in a vain bid to prop up the currency. Homophones vain \| veinvain vein /veɪn/ /veɪn/ vain adjective He plunged into the icy water in a vain effort to rescue his dog. vein noun A vein in her head throbbed when she was angry. Topics Difficulty and failurec2 (disapproving) too proud of your own appearance, abilities or achievements synonym conceited She's too vain to wear glasses. see also vanity Extra Examples Their flattery made him vain. very vain about his looks He's so vain! I don't think it's vain to care about how you look. Topics Personal qualitiesc1 Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘without real worth’): via Old French from Latin vanus ‘empty, without substance’. Idioms in vain without success They tried in vain to persuade her to go. She waited in vain for her son to return. All our efforts were in vain. Topics Difficulty and failurec2 take somebody’s name in vain to show a lack of respect when using somebody’s name or when talking about them (humorous) Have you been taking my name in vain again? to take the Lord's name in vain
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