vainly — without success; in a way that produces no result
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: without success; in a way that produces no result
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈveɪnli/
Example Sentences
- The cat vainly tried to catch the laser pointer dot for hours.
- He vainly spent hours styling his hair before realizing it was a windy day.
- She vainly searched for her keys, only to find them in her hand.
vainly
ADVERB[/ˈveɪnli/]
without success; in a way that produces no result
All their efforts were vain after the storm destroyed the project overnight.
The politician’s vain promises disappeared once the election was over. (VALUELESS + PRIDE = VAIN → empty pride or useless effort)
All his vain complaints faded away, but the consequences still remained.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Latin 'vanus' (empty, hollow, futile), which passed through Old French before entering English. The original sense of 'empty' evolved to mean 'lacking substance' or 'futile,' ultimately describing actions undertaken without success or purpose.
Breakdown
vain (from Latin vanus, meaning empty or futile) + -ly (adverbial suffix forming an adverb from an adjective).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The cat vainly tried to catch the laser pointer dot for hours.”
“He vainly spent hours styling his hair before realizing it was a windy day.”
“She vainly searched for her keys, only to find them in her hand.”
“The students vainly hoped the exam would be cancelled due to snow.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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