English Meaning & Definitions
Without success; fruitlessly or in a way that produces no result.
- “She searched vainly for her lost keys in the dark hallway.”
- “The rescue team struggled vainly against the rising tide.”
In a way that shows excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements.
- “He looked vainly into the mirror, adjusting his tie for the tenth time.”
- “She spoke vainly about her accomplishments, hoping to impress the guests.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “vainly”.
Derived from the Middle English 'vain' (from Old French 'vain', from Latin 'vanus' meaning 'empty, void, or idle'). The suffix '-ly' was added to form the adverbial state of acting in a manner that is empty of success or result.
Think of 'vain' as 'empty'—if you try to fill a bucket with a hole in it, you are working 'vainly' because the effort is empty of results.
Frequently Asked Questions About “vainly”
1. What is the meaning of “vainly” in English?
In English, vainly (adverb) is defined as: “Without success; fruitlessly or in a way that produces no result.”.
2. How do you use “vainly” in a sentence?
“She searched vainly for her lost keys in the dark hallway.”
3. What are English synonyms of “vainly”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “vainly”?
Derived from the Middle English 'vain' (from Old French 'vain', from Latin 'vanus' meaning 'empty, void, or idle'). The suffix '-ly' was added to form the adverbial state of acting in a manner that is empty of success or result.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.