in vain
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.74 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
3
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
adv
In a disrespectful manner, without honoring the proper meaning; insincerely or without proper respect.
adj
Example Sentences
- "[…]that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain[…]"
- "19th c., Friedrich Nietzsche On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain."
- "For some time Grannie tried in vain to comfort her."
- "All these great plans were in vain, however, for in the cold dawn following the "Mania" years of 1845–46 the M.B.M. & M.J.R. project was truncated to an 11+¹⁄₂-mile line from Ambergate to Rowsley."
- "Knock me down, it's all in vain I get right back on my feet again"
- "Thou ſhalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine:[…]"
Inflected Forms
more in vain (comparative)
most in vain (superlative)