adj

vain

vayn

adj

Excessively proud of one's own looks or achievements.

"He was too vain to be seen in public without styling his hair first."

Producing no result; useless or pointless (especially in the phrase "in vain").

"Their attempts to save the business were in vain."

"She tried in vain to convince him to stay."

How to Use Vain

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither full of yourself about your looks, or (in the phrase "in vain") pointless and unsuccessful.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "vein" (a blood vessel) or "vane" (a weather vane) — all three sound identical.

Easily confused with

vein → vane →

Common pairings

in vain vain attempt vain hope

vainer comparative, more vain comparative, vained past tense, vains singular, vainest superlative, most vain superlative

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He was too _____ to be seen in public without styling his hair first.

From Old French vain, from Latin vanus, meaning "empty."

conceited narcissistic self-adoring self-admiring self-obsessed vainglorious

modest nonnarcissistic

small arrogant modest immoral proud exorbitant pompous pretentious

ain rain pain lain gain main fain bain Iain Jain Cain Spain

conceited narcissistic self-adoring self-admiring self-obsessed vainglorious modest nonnarcissistic small arrogant immoral proud