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I'm not vain, I'm insecure.
Mariah Carey

Meaning of "vain" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD VAIN

Via Old French from Latin vānus.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF VAIN

vain  [veɪn] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF VAIN

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Vain can act as a noun and an adjective.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.

WHAT DOES VAIN MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Vain

Vain may refer to: ▪ Vain , a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse ▪ Vain Stakes, an Australian Thoroughbred horse race ▪ Vain, a glam metal band formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1986 ▪ Bruno Vain, soccer sportscaster ▪ Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, a medical disorder...

Definition of vain in the English dictionary

The first definition of vain in the dictionary is inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements. Other definition of vain is given to ostentatious display, esp of one's beauty. Vain is also worthless.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH VAIN


Bahrain
bɑːˈreɪn
brain
breɪn
campaign
kæmˈpeɪn
chain
tʃeɪn
contain
kənˈteɪn
domain
dəˈmeɪn
explain
ɪkˈspleɪn
gain
ɡeɪn
jane
dʒeɪn
lain
leɪn
lane
leɪn
main
meɪn
Maine
meɪn
maintain
meɪnˈteɪn
obtain
əbˈteɪn
pain
peɪn
plain
pleɪn
plane
pleɪn
rain
reɪn
remain
rɪˈmeɪn

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE VAIN

vaguely
vagueness
vagus
vagus nerve
vahana
vahine
vail
vainesse
vainglorious
vaingloriously
vainglory
vainly
vainness
vair
vairy
Vaishnava
Vaishnavism
Vaisya
vaivode
vaivodeship

WORDS THAT END LIKE VAIN

again
ain
bargain
Britain
captain
certain
drain
ever and again
fountain
grain
Hussain
in the main
in the public domain
mountain
over again
retain
Spain
strain
terrain
train

Synonyms and antonyms of vain in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «VAIN»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «vain» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of vain

Translation of «vain» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF VAIN

Find out the translation of vain to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of vain from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «vain» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

徒然的
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

vano
570 millions of speakers

English

vain
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

व्यर्थ
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

باَطِل
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

тщетный
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

vaidoso
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

নিরর্থক
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

vaniteux
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Sia-sia
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

eitel
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

うぬぼれの強い
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

허영심이 강한
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Muspra
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

vô hiệu
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

வீண்
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

व्यर्थ
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

nafile
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

vano
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

próżny
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

марний
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

zadarnic
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

μάταιος
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

tevergeefs
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

fåfäng
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

forfengelig
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of vain

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «VAIN»

The term «vain» is very widely used and occupies the 11.108 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
95
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «vain» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of vain
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «vain».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «VAIN» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «vain» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «vain» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about vain

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «VAIN»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word vain.
1
Aeschylus
And though all streams flow from a single course to cleanse the blood from polluted hand, they hasten on their course in vain.
2
Ben Affleck
I'm not the type of guy who enjoys one-night stands. It leaves me feeling very empty and cynical. It's not even fun sexually. I need to feel something for the woman and entertain the vain hope that it may lead to a relationship.
3
Diane Arbus
Men are but children of a larger growth, Our appetites as apt to change as theirs, And full as craving too, and full as vain.
4
P. T. Barnum
Men, women, and children who cannot live on gravity alone need something to satisfy their gayer, lighter moods and hours, and he who ministers to this want is, in my opinion, in a business established by the Creator of our nature. If he worthily fulfills his mission and amuses without corrupting, he need never feel that he has lived in vain.
5
James M. Barrie
The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble.
6
Bodhidharma
Life and death are important. Don't suffer them in vain.
7
Kenneth Branagh
I think the best actors are the most generous, the kindest, the greatest people and at their worst they are vain, greedy and insecure.
8
Jacob Bronowski
It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
9
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
World's use is cold, world's love is vain, world's cruelty is bitter bane; but is not the fruit of pain.
10
Mariah Carey
I'm not vain, I'm insecure.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «VAIN»

Discover the use of vain in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to vain and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Destruction of a Vain Woman
The Whys of Love Why do some people have an intensive love connection that others can't save themselves from and struggle?
Ethienne, 2009
2
Pandora Gets Vain
Look for the other exciting books in the Pandora series: Pandora Gets Jealous, Pandora Gets Heart, Pandora Gets Lazy, and Pandora Gets Angry!
Carolyn Hennesy, 2010
3
Vain Rhetoric: Private Insight and Public Debate in Ecclesiastes
The Book of Ecclesiastes, like many ancient and modern first-person discourses, generates ambivalent responses in its readers.
Gary D. Salyer, 2001
4
He's So Vain He Can't See You: How to Recognize a Narcissist
A memoir, in which the author recounts her experience of falling in love with two pathologically narcissistic men.
Lisa E. Scott, 2008
5
Vain Labour
In the neighboring villages of Chah and Wum, simply living life can feel like nothing more than Vain Labour.
Nto Denis Kembea, 2010
6
Love in Vain: Selected Stories of Federigo Tozzi
A collection of stories by the Italian author revolves around idealistic young characters whose search for a romantic ideal usually ends in dissapointment.
Federigo Tozzi, 2001
7
Pride: A Dictionary for the Vain
Pride: A Dictionary for the Vain No one enjoys lording over the uneducated with a pretty pointed vocabulary like the Prideful. Now each and every word they need to describe how much better they are is right there at their fingertips.
Adams Media, 2011
8
None Died in Vain: The Saga of the American Civil War
A narrative of the American Civil War captures the drama and tragedy of this shattering conflict, and covers strategies, politics and economics
Robert Leckie, 1990
9
Not in Vain: A Story of a Soldier
Joseph L. Gomez is also the author of Sarah Ann, The Story Of A Pioneer Woman, 1997, Biographical Publishing Company.
Joseph L. Gomez, 2007
10
Unless the Lord Build the House They Labor in Vain (Psalm ...
This book, "Construction, Obstruction, or Destruction" is the first volume in a series on the topic of the Lord constructing the perfect house-that is, completing us just the way that He intended us to be.
Rock D. Moore, 2010

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «VAIN»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term vain is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Carly Simon Memoir Coming in November: Will She Finally Reveal …
Fans have long speculated about the subject of "You're So Vain," considering potential candidates like David Bowie, David Cassidy, Kris Kristofferson and Cat ... «People Magazine, Jul 15»
2
Walmart employees battle in vain to save manager's life after her …
After the stabbing, the 27-year-old collapsed on the floor, but she was bleeding so heavily that her colleagues' attempts to save her were in vain. She bled to ... «Mirror.co.uk, Jun 15»
3
Vain trainer Moloney humbled by selection
In 1969 Vain won the Craven A Stakes (Salinger Stakes) on the first day of the VRC Spring Carnival by 12 lengths, the Linlithgow Stakes (VRC Sprint Classic) by ... «Fox Sports, May 15»
4
Tim Southee's giant-killing deeds in vain as rain hits Indian Premier …
Tim Southee was too good for Royal Challengers Bangalore opening batsmen Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, but his efforts were in vain as the rain came down. «Stuff.co.nz, Apr 15»
5
Thomas: Was sacrifice of Ramadi dead in vain?
“...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain...” – Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address. While the U.S. military in recent years ... «Northwest Herald, Apr 15»
6
Share this story
Sadler said Vain Queen would need luck in running — she has drawn barrier nine in a 14-horse field — as ... VAIN QUEEN John Sadler Nicholas Hall (9) 56.5kg. «Herald Sun, Mar 15»
7
10 NSFW Things Veronica Vain Wants You to Know about Porn
Lots of NSFW within, so don't say you weren't warned if you read on, you goons. Veronica Vain made waves in January when she quit her job in finance to ... «CBS Local, Mar 15»
8
Haruki Murakami Says Hong Kong Protests Won't Be in Vain
In response, Mr. Murakami said he was disappointed things didn't turn out as many had hoped. “But what you did for democratization will not be in vain,” he said. «Wall Street Journal, Mar 15»
9
Row over 'Labour in Vain' 19th century pub sign showing white …
The sign at the Labour in Vain in Yarnfield in Staffordshire shows a black boy being scrubbed in the bath by a white couple. The image was declared politically ... «expressandstar.com, Feb 15»
10
Staffordshire's Labour In Vain pub in racism row over historic sign
Yarnsfield locals have battled for 20 years to keep the sign in the 166-year-old Labour In Vain pub, after it was first removed in 1994 after two 10-year-old girls ... «Daily Mail, Feb 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Vain [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/vain>. Apr 2024 ».
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