vain

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈveɪn/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/veɪn/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(vān)

Inflections of 'vain' (adj):
vainer
adj comparative
vainest
adj superlative

Collocations for "vain"


Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "vain" in context.

WordReference English Collocations © 2025

vain

ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.
adj
  1. a vain [teenager, model, artist]
  2. she is [so, really, extremely] vain
  3. was a rather vain [display, collection, performance]
  4. would be vain to [think, ask, attempt]
  5. vain [postures, remarks, poses, comments]
  6. vain [efforts, hopes, attempts] (to)
  7. [killed, failed] in a vain effort to
  8. [lives, has] a vain existence
adv
  1. (all) our [efforts] were in vain
  2. the [rescue mission, search] was (all) in vain
  3. [said, done, made] in vain
  4. [fought, battled, searched] in vain
  5. took [her, God's] name in vain
  6. don't take [God's] name in vain
'vain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Lord - attempt - conceited - die - labor - long - sacrifice - strive - toil - wait - weep

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