vain
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Related to vainer: vainest
vain
excessively proud of one’s appearance, qualities, etc.; conceited: She is very vain about her long black hair.; arrogant; egotistical; without effect or avail: Her efforts were in vain.; worthless; unimportant
Not to be confused with:
vane – blade in a wheel moved by air, steam, or water: A weather vane shows the direction of the wind.; someone who is changeable or fickle
vein – blood vessel; a natural channel; a body or stratum of ore: a rich vein of coal; a condition, mood, or temper: a vein of sadness; tone; touch; thread; streak
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
vain
(vān)adj. vain·er, vain·est
Idiom: 1. Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless: a vain attempt.
2. Lacking substance or worth: vain talk.
3. Having or showing excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments; conceited.
4. Archaic Foolish.
in vain
1. To no avail; without success: Our labor was in vain.
2. In an irreverent or disrespectful manner: took the Lord's name in vain.
vain′ly adv.
vain′ness n.
Synonyms: vain, empty, hollow, idle, otiose
These adjectives mean lacking value or substance: vain regrets; empty pleasures; hollow threats; idle dreams; otiose theoretical discussions. See Also Synonyms at futile.
These adjectives mean lacking value or substance: vain regrets; empty pleasures; hollow threats; idle dreams; otiose theoretical discussions. See Also Synonyms at futile.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
vain
(veɪn)adj
1. inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements
2. given to ostentatious display, esp of one's beauty
3. worthless
4. senseless or futile
n
5. in vain to no avail; fruitlessly
6. take someone's name in vain
a. to use the name of someone, esp God, without due respect or reverence
b. jocular to mention someone's name
7. (Bible) to use the name of someone, esp God, without due respect or reverence
8. jocular to mention someone's name
[C13: via Old French from Latin vānus]
ˈvainly adv
ˈvainness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
vain
(veɪn)adj. -er, -est.
1. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.
2. proceeding from or showing personal vanity.
3. futile: vain efforts.
4. without real significance.
5. Archaic. senseless or foolish.
Idioms: in vain,
a. without effect or avail; to no purpose.
b. in an improper or irreverent manner: to take God's name in vain.
[1250–1300; < Old French < Latin vānus empty, vain]
vain′ly, adv.
vain′ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adj. | 1. | vain - characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance; "a conceited fool"; "an attitude of self-conceited arrogance"; "an egotistical disregard of others"; "so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty"; "growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary"; "vain about her clothes" proud - feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride; "proud parents"; "proud of his accomplishments"; "a proud moment"; "proud to serve his country"; "a proud name"; "proud princes" |
2. | vain - unproductive of success; "a fruitless search"; "futile years after her artistic peak"; "a sleeveless errand"; "a vain attempt" unproductive - not producing or capable of producing; "elimination of high-cost or unproductive industries" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
vain
adjective
1. futile, useless, pointless, unsuccessful, empty, hollow, idle, trivial, worthless, trifling, senseless, unimportant, fruitless, unproductive, abortive, unprofitable, time-wasting, unavailing, nugatory They worked all night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
futile successful, profitable, worthwhile, serious, useful, valid, worthy, fruitful
futile successful, profitable, worthwhile, serious, useful, valid, worthy, fruitful
2. conceited, narcissistic, proud, arrogant, inflated, swaggering, stuck-up (informal), cocky, swanky (informal), ostentatious, egotistical, self-important, overweening, vainglorious, swollen-headed (informal), pleased with yourself, bigheaded (informal), peacockish She's a shallow, vain and self-centred woman.
conceited modest, humble, meek, self-deprecating, bashful
conceited modest, humble, meek, self-deprecating, bashful
in vain
3. useless, to no avail, unsuccessfu, fruitless, useless, unsuccessful, fruitless, wasted, vain, ineffectual, without success, to no purpose, bootless All her complaints were in vain.
4. uselessly, to no avail, unsuccessfully, fruitlessly, vainly, ineffectually, without success, to no purpose, bootlessly He hammered the door, trying in vain to attract her attention.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
vain
adjective1. Having no useful result:
Idiom: in vain.
3. Unduly preoccupied with one's own appearance:
4. Thinking too highly of oneself:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
باَطِلغَيْر ناجِح، باطِل، عَقيمفارِغ، باطِل، لا معْنى لهمَغْرور، مَزْهو
marnýnafoukanýprázdný
forfængeligforgævesfrugtesløs
turhamainentyhjäturha
uzaludan
hiú
árangurslaushégómlegur, sjálfumglaîurinnantómur
うぬぼれの強い
허영심이 강한
tuščiagarbis
iedomīgsneveiksmīgstukšsveltīgs
brezuspešendomišljavzaman
fåfäng
ไร้ประโยชน์
vô hiệu
vain
[veɪn] ADJ1. (= useless) → vano, inútil
in vain [try, struggle] → en vano, inútilmente; [search] → sin éxito, en vano
all our efforts were in vain → todos nuestros esfuerzos fueron en vano or resultaron inútiles
I stayed, in the vain hope that → me quedé con la vana esperanza de que ...
to take sb's name in vain → hablar con poco respeto de algn
to take the Lord's name in vain → tomar el nombre de Dios en vano
in vain [try, struggle] → en vano, inútilmente; [search] → sin éxito, en vano
all our efforts were in vain → todos nuestros esfuerzos fueron en vano or resultaron inútiles
I stayed, in the vain hope that → me quedé con la vana esperanza de que ...
to take sb's name in vain → hablar con poco respeto de algn
to take the Lord's name in vain → tomar el nombre de Dios en vano
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
vain
[ˈveɪn] adjCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
vain
adj
(+er) (about looks) → eitel; (about qualities) → eingebildet; he’s very vain about his musical abilities → er bildet sich (dat) → auf sein musikalisches Können viel ein; he is vain about his appearance → er ist eitel
(= useless, empty) → eitel (liter); attempt also → vergeblich; pleasures, promises, words also, threat → leer; hope also → töricht; he had vain hopes of getting the job → er machte sich vergeblich Hoffnung auf den Posten; in the vain hope that … → in der vergeblichen Hoffnung, dass …; in vain → umsonst, vergeblich, vergebens; it was all in vain → das war alles umsonst or vergeblich or vergebens; in a vain attempt to do something → in einem vergeblichen Versuch, etw zu tun
to take God’s name in vain → den Namen Gottes missbrauchen, Gott lästern; was someone taking my name in vain? (hum) → hat da wieder jemand von mir geredet?
(liter, = worthless) display, ceremony → eitel (liter)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
vain
[veɪn] adj (-er (comp) (-est (superl)))a. (attempt, hope) → vano/a, inutile
in vain → invano, inutilmente
all our efforts were in vain → tutti i nostri sforzi sono stati inutili
in vain → invano, inutilmente
all our efforts were in vain → tutti i nostri sforzi sono stati inutili
b. (person) → vanitoso/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
vain
(vein) adjective1. having too much pride in one's appearance, achievements etc; conceited. She's very vain about her good looks.
2. unsuccessful. He made a vain attempt to reach the drowning woman.
3. empty; meaningless. vain threats; vain promises.
ˈvainly adverb unsuccessfully. He searched vainly for the treasure.
vanity (ˈvӕnəti) noun1. excessive admiration of oneself; conceit. Vanity is her chief fault.
2. worthlessness or pointlessness. the vanity of human ambition.
in vain with no success. He tried in vain to open the locked door.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
vain
→ باَطِل marný frugtesløs eitel μάταιος vanidoso, vano turhamainen vaniteux uzaludan vano うぬぼれの強い 허영심이 강한 vergeefs forfengelig próżny vaidoso тщетный fåfäng ไร้ประโยชน์ kendini beğenmiş vô hiệu 徒然的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
vain
a. vano-a, vanidoso-a;
adv. vanamente, en vano.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012