vain Meaning & Definition
What Does Vain Mean?
As an adjective, vain means Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason. It can also mean Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. As a verb, it means To frustrate. (The addition of quotations indicative of this usage is being sought:).
Vain in Brief
| Part of speech | adjective, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /veɪn/ |
| Synonyms | conceited, futile and proud |
| Comparative / superlative | vainer, vainest |
| Verb forms | vains, vaining, vained |
Vain Definition (Adjective)
- Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.
- Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
- Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.
vain toil a vain attempt
- Showy; ostentatious.
Vain as a Verb
- To frustrate. (The addition of quotations indicative of this usage is being sought:)
Synonyms of Vain
Vain in a Sentence
vain toil a vain attempt
vain toil; a vain attempt
Word Forms & Grammar
vain (comparative vainer or more vain, superlative vainest or most vain)
vain (third-person singular simple present vains, present participle vaining, simple past and past participle vained)
Words That Rhyme With Vain
Origin of Vain
Origin 1: From Middle English veyn, from Old French vain, from Latin vānus (“empty”).
Origin 2: A conversion of the adjectival form of vain. The only use of this verb in English appears c. 1628 in the writings of Owen Felltham.
Common Questions About Vain
Is vain an adjective or a verb?
Vain is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for vain?
You can replace vain with words such as conceited, futile and proud. See the full list of vain synonyms and antonyms.
What is the past tense of vain?
The past tense of vain is vained. The present participle is vaining.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of vain?
The comparative form is vainer and the superlative form is vainest.