vain
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
How often you will meet it
Rank 996 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 18,335 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.009% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adjective
- characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance also: conceited, egotistic, egotistical, self-conceited, swollen, swollen-headed a conceited foolan attitude of self-conceited arrogance
- unproductive of success also: bootless, fruitless, futile, sleeveless a fruitless searchfutile years after her artistic peak
vain in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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But in vain did the commissary search all the drawers.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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But my desire was as vain as my folly in making.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1
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If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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Telemachus fretted in vain, and Odysseus was devoured by grief and home-sickness in the isle of Calypso.
The Odyssey of Homer · 751? BCE-651? BCE Homer · Chapter 1
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Little Joey, however, was always welcome and he'd often drop in on the old sailor and never in vain.
The Torch and Other Tales · Eden Phillpotts · Chapter 1