vain
vayn
Vain (adj) means Excessively proud of one's own looks or achievements. Example: “He was too vain to be seen in public without styling his hair first.”
adj
1
Excessively proud of one's own looks or achievements.
"He was too vain to be seen in public without styling his hair first."
"She is so vain that she checks her reflection in every shop window."
"Don't be so vain; nobody is staring at your new haircut."
2
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."
"We waited for the bus in vain, because the service had been cancelled."
How to use vain
Learner’s notesIn 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.
Common pairings
in vain
vain attempt
vain hope
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- vains
- Past tense
- vained
- Comparative
- vainer, more vain
- Superlative
- vainest, most vain
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was too _____ to be seen in public without styling his hair first.
Etymology
From Old French vain, from Latin vanus, meaning "empty."
Synonyms
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egotistical
self-important
futile
fruitless
pointless
proud
conceited
narcissistic
self-adoring
self-admiring
self-obsessed
vainglorious
Antonyms
modest
nonnarcissistic
Related words
Rhymes for vain
See all rhymes for vain →Frequently asked questions
What does “vain” mean?
The word “vain” means excessively proud of one's own looks or achievements. In plain terms, either full of yourself about your looks, or (in the phrase "in vain") pointless and unsuccessful.
How do you pronounce “vain”?
“Vain” is pronounced vayn (/veɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “vain” in a sentence?
Here is “vain” used in a sentence: “He was too vain to be seen in public without styling his hair first.”
What is another word for “vain”?
Words with a similar meaning to “vain” include conceited, narcissistic, self-adoring, self-admiring, self-obsessed and vainglorious.
What is the opposite of “vain”?
The opposite of “vain” — its antonyms — are modest and nonnarcissistic.
What part of speech is “vain”?
“Vain” is an adjective.
Where does the word “vain” come from?
The word “vain” comes from Latin. From Old French vain, from Latin vanus, meaning "empty.".
Is “vain” a common word?
“Vain” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "vain" and "in vain"?
"Vain" as an adjective describes a person who is excessively proud of their looks or achievements, while the phrase "in vain" describes an effort that produced no result, as in "they tried in vain to save the building." The two uses share the root idea of emptiness but apply to different things.
Is calling someone "vain" an insult?
Yes, describing someone as "vain" is generally critical, implying they are excessively proud of their appearance or accomplishments in a way seen as self-centered or shallow.
Why does "vain" mean both "proud" and "useless"?
Both senses of "vain" relate to emptiness: excessive pride is seen as an empty, unfounded self-regard, while a "vain" effort is one that is empty of any real result. The two meanings developed from the same core idea rather than being unrelated.
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