[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/vainly/)

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# vainly

adverb (vainly)

«vainly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Without success; in vain: he tried vainly to open the door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#m1)
2. (less common) In a vain, proud way about your looks or abilities. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used in stories about efforts that fail: Alice tries vainly to reach the key on the glass table. Common phrase: «in vain» (= with no result). In The Wind in the Willows Mole searches vainly for the path in the Wild Wood.

### Examples

- Alice tried vainly to reach the golden key. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#x1)
- He searched vainly for his lost glove. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#x2)
- Mole looked vainly for a way out of the wood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#x3)
- The cat jumped vainly at the bird. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#x4)
- They waited vainly for the bus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#x5)
- She vainly admired herself in every mirror. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#x6)
- Vainly they tried to imagine what death could be like. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/#x7)

### Note

From «vain», which has two meanings: «useless» (in vain) and «too proud of your looks». Homophones: vain, vein (a blood tube), vane (a weathervane).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «vainly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vainly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«vainly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/vainly.html) on Mova free.