in vain
108
3.7
- idiom
- /ɪn veɪn/
:
en vano
- I sincerely hope the Senate makes the right vote tomorrow, so that Alex Murphy's sacrifices will not have been in vain.
- try in vain
- look in vain
- search in vain
For neither do men live nor die in vain.
- For neither do men live nor die in vain.
- I just hope my tragedy and Jimmy's death isn't in vain.
- Think long and hard and please don't let the last two years have been in vain.
- It's a violation of other obligations that she has, but she strives in vain.
- Although she had a rare talent for bringing them into close proximity, I've been trying in vain to come to grips with her passing.
- But like, you know, I would never want to look at it like guys who go over there bravely, like die in vain or anything like that.
- He says reason has no part in the knowing of first principles, and it tries in vain to impugn them.
Examples
-
Do you guys ever feel like some of it's in vain because of that?
-
Don't let their deaths be in vain.
-
Your death will not be in vain!
-
Please, Mr. Lee, if you do this, everything will be in vain.
-
And more of our brothers have died in vain.
-
Every evening, I try in vain to throw it out of my mind.
Fiction book (1992) -
At any rate, it would be in vain because it does not reveal anything.
Fiction book (1994) -
Many are unaware of the coming changes, while those who are attempt in vain to prevent them.
Academic text (1999) -
Robin and the others try in vain to lift the portcullis.
Fiction book (1991) -
The team worked tirelessly, but their efforts were in vain as they lost the championship.
Synonyms
31
3.0
In a way that does not get the result you wanted
5
5.5
In a way that does not succeed
4
3.5
In a way that does not help or make any difference
3
7.4
In a way that does not make a difference
3
4.0
In a way that does not get the result you want
2
6.0
In a way that does not succeed
1
7.4
With little success and no real result
1
6.7
In a way that fails to get useful results
Without success when someone tries to do something
In a way that fails to reach the goal
In a way that does not work or help
Antonyms
How Successful
350
1.8
108
3.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
In vain comes from the old idea of vain meaning 'empty'. Imagine pouring water into a bucket with a hole so nothing stays. That image of doing something into emptiness shows why in vain means 'without success'.