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Definition of vain:

  • (adjective) characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
  • (adjective) unproductive of success

Sentence Examples:

Had he managed to secure the grip he desired, opposition would have been vain, and he would have compassed his design.

I avoided the mention of such terms, so as not to frighten him, and in order not to make him vain.

He opened his eyes and looked around, seemingly with the expectation of seeing the three sailors, but he looked in vain.

For a week of coasting from port to port he looked in vain for some event which would set him right.

I knew it was in vain to fly; our horses were already weary and faint, and could hold out no longer.

It was there they had evidently expected to discover the treasure, but, like ourselves, they had worked in vain.

It is all in vain that you have read the poets and historians: you have no true conception of the beauty of life.

Convinced that all her hopes of immunity had been but vain dreams, she had become angry, hysterical, almost violent.

In vain Oswald Cray pointed out to her that it had been the same thing with regard to the rail itself.

Dolly sat alert and breathless, a sudden terror growing in her heart lest her watching were all in vain.

I do not doubt I am limitless, and that the universes are limitless; in vain I try to think how limitless.

Here the oath is justified; but the reader will have remarked that the name of Allah is often taken in vain.

Jerry well remembered the fat passenger, who had tried in vain to get a lower berth from the porter.

For some seconds she paused, and gasped hard for breath, and tried in vain to recall her scattered senses.

Every day the roses she caresses, whisper to her of the ardent lover who sighs near her in vain.

He knew that knots hastily tied could frequently be worked loose; but, alas, it was a vain hope in his case!

For perhaps an hour he endeavored in vain to pick up a ship or a station in any of the South American countries.

He had offered her large sums of money, he had tempted her with costly gifts, but all in vain.

I busied myself on your behalf with all the zeal and industry of which I was capable, but quite in vain.

In vain had his mother Matilda, who loved him tenderly, endeavored many times to reconcile him with his father.

It was in vain to appeal afresh to a benevolent public, whose confidence had gone elsewhere, and whose suspicions were excited.

When the morning dawned, in vain did we look over every part of the ocean for our companions; they were gone!

It is like running alongside a parallel pathway into which we are perpetually trying to turn ourselves, but all in vain.

One may search the inscriptions in vain for any reference to a malignant power, to vengeance, to jealousy, or to hatred.

As a last resort they even appealed to Father Fischer to use his influence in their behalf, but all in vain.

Adrian turned away, for the stern faces of the men-at-arms told him that his pleadings were all in vain.

He made an eloquent defense, but all in vain, and he suffered death on Tower Hill in 1645, displaying great courage.

Vigorous efforts were made during 1863 to induce the Government to recognize the Southern Confederacy, but they were made in vain.

The brothers strained their eyes, but in vain; for the darkness was too great for them to perceive anything.

You must remember how often you have hunted in vain for a thing which I have found at the first attempt.

She was an extraordinarily vain and feather-brained girl, but no coward, and she merely nodded her tiny lace cap.

I have fought it for years and thus far in vain, but I shall continue to fight until it is broken.

After expecting her in vain for some time, she rang the bell, and sent another message somewhat more pressing.

From time to time he tried to cut the chain that held the trap, but of course he tried in vain.

She tried the wardrobe, the chest of drawers, looked under the bed and up the chimney, but in vain.

Yesterday Eric was at last accepted by Elisabeth, after having twice proposed in vain during the last three months.

Coleman wondered whether, after all, he would repent; but the evening came, and she waited and waited in vain.

He searched in vain for any reason why she should have taken this attitude in the matter of a simple kiss.

In vain; the mist was denser than usual, although it grew gray with the light of the coming dawn.

Too late did he resolve to amend his past errors; in vain did he attempt to break up this fatal alliance.

Too late did he resolve to amend his past errors; in vain did he attempt to break up this fatal alliance.

Thence he shouted to the men below, but in vain, for the wind prevented his voice from reaching them.

Being tired with skipping and butting at me in vain, the whole herd trotted away, and I after them.

There is a stillness and a peace over the fair city that one may long for in vain during the winter.

Her faith and hope had been marsh-lights luring her to the wilderness, her love a vain edifice reared on shifting ground.

I was proud and vain: wealth, ambition, and social rank for a time satisfied my faculties and my heart.

I was proud and vain: wealth, ambition, and social rank for a time satisfied my faculties and my heart.

That day Burley went out with his rod, and he fished hard for the one-eyed perch; but in vain.

Wills says in his note that, since his written applications have been in vain, he must call upon me in person.

He felt an aversion in her near presence: in vain did he reproach himself for it: it was stronger than himself.

And in vain a malignant wolf sits over him every minute, filling his glass and waiting for the end.

The energies of man were wasted in a vain effort to obtain the aid of this power, supposed to be superior to nature.

In vain did he refuse to speak or try to turn the conversation: they insisted on talking about music and poetry.

No, no: it was all in vain, the last dying struggle of a bird, blindly, desperately beating its wings.

I don't often stand on the vain dignity of the so-called artist, but this time I've been glad to do so.

In vain did the cold blast of poverty blow through that chamber and bring with it dirt and disorder.

He kept his word, and today he stands at the head of that class to which he once aspired in vain.

All her pretty little arts were now practiced in vain: with cheek resting on my hand, I still sat.

It was in vain to hope for anything vigorous or manly from such men as Nelson was compelled to act with.

The only person in the whole alley whom Michael had invited in vain to the farm was old Sally.

We immediately began diving for him, but in vain; some hours later the body was found under a raft.

It was in vain that the old lady asked her if she was aware she was speaking to Miss Pinkerton?

He could also see from them that she wrote to him frequently and had tried to reach him in vain.

Bender in vain begged the Germans for help in getting the wounded men out of the ambulances into the hospital.

Perhaps he was sitting there, looking through the evening paper in the vain hope of finding news of my capture.

A citizen sprang to the standard and kept it aloft while he strove to stem the tide, but in vain.

The surgeons had in vain endeavored to extract the bullet, and were unable to give any cheering reply to Jack's anxious inquiries.

Mother, forever in vain would then our abundant possessions Prosper before me, and seasons to come be in vain to me fruitful.

It was in vain that it was urged on her that with the spring strength would return to the child.

Had I taken this resolution a year ago, it would have saved me many vain hopes, and you, perhaps, a little uncertainty.

He felt how strange such a wish would appear to his crew, and tried to disregard it; but in vain.

Ulysses went down to take his place at table, looking in vain at the other guests who had preceded him.

Augusta, utterly overcome by this awful sight, knelt down by his side and tried to quiet him, but in vain.

When the boy had finished bathing he searched for them a long time in vain and then went home crying.

In a literary movement in the "Isle of Saints", we look naturally for religious poetry, and we do not look in vain.

It was in vain, however, that Sully pointed out the follies and dangers of such a step as was proposed.

She lived in the depths of a great depression, against which, strive as she might, she ever strove in vain.

And what would the bravest soldiers accomplish in the day of battle, if they asked the same question in vain?

Its intense and potent vibrations and the rainbow glory of its color beat at the door of consciousness in vain.

Every system is vain, every explanation erroneous, the moment I feel living in my heart the knowledge of these souls.

The conviction is forced on me by observation, and not by vain enthusiasm, that I am fit for nothing else.

That would seem to be one of the happiest uses to which good books could be put; but the hope is vain.

As our steamer had come up the coast I had looked in vain for even a decent-sized woman or child amongst them.

Cried Joe, upon entering and looking round in vain for his host, who had vanished in a most inexplicable manner.

I sought in vain for the canoe which had landed here, nor did I find any huts of the natives.

It was not so easy, however, to climb into the high wooden saddle, and Cuthbert tried several times in vain.

Laws to restrain and punish him are framed; societies to protect and reform him are organized, and mostly in vain.

I knew also that reason may strive with superstition as with the other instincts, but it will strive in vain.

All his endeavors to see her were in vain, till she was assured he brought a letter from her mother.

She has sometimes resisted the sexual expression of her feelings, once for years at a time, but always in vain.

There were days when I could not endure looking at him, though surely I have long ceased to be a vain man.

She watched in vain through the rest of that dinner for a conversational sensation at his end of the table.

All I could do was to beg him to calm himself, and to reflect how vain such fancies must be.

The proud, the vain, the haughty, those striving for effect, are never counted among the world's greatest personages.

Mystery of genius, which bears in itself its inexplicable power of emotion, and which science and taste in vain deny!

He was a vain and selfish man, feeling none of the responsibilities of his position, and living chiefly for pleasure.

He was a bit vain, rather selfish, and liked to have his own way, a very rare failing among boys.

He soon found not only that his mission was in vain, but that he was regarded virtually as a prisoner.

Peggy, restrained by her mother from joining him, watched him with longing eyes; but she watched in vain.

She wondered if she should be among them after a few hours of vain waiting and standing on her feet.