Vain — meaning and examples from Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

Definition

Vain — adjective.

  1. Done without success; producing no desired result.
  2. Describes an attempt or effort that fails to achieve what was intended.
  3. Refers to a person who has an excessively high opinion of their appearance, abilities, or worth.

Examples in Sentences

Notes on Usage

The word vain often appears in expressions such as in vain, meaning "without achieving anything" or "unsuccessfully."

“They tried in vain to save the building from the fire.”

Vain can also describe a person who is overly concerned with their looks or achievements.

“He’s so vain – he checks his reflection every few minutes.”


Author’s summary: The word “vain” describes both failure in achieving results and excessive self-admiration, depending on the context of use.

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Cambridge Dictionary Cambridge Dictionary — 2025-11-25

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