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Meanings of in vain in English

Portuguese
em vão

Without success, without the desired effect.

em vão
Synonyms
Examples for "vainly"
Examples for "vainly"
1
The princess and myself have vainly searched the key to the enigma.
A Cardinal Sin
2
The wretches plunged into the waters, and struggled vainly against the current.
World's Best Histories — Volume 7: France
3
He looked vainly for the two persons in whom he was interested.
Andy the Acrobat / Or, Out with the Greatest Show on Earth
4
The guards vainly endeavoured to appease the, in many cases, half-frenzied creatures.
The Beetle: A Mystery
5
The Politician who was rotten-egged after vainly trying to control a meeting
Woodland Tales
1
The RNC calls for nothing less than a sea change in attitudes.
The Guardian
2
To get something for nothing is the fundamental immorality in the world.
Stories from Everybody's Magazine
3
Yes, even if the intern says they're happy to work for nothing.
The Guardian
4
He has seen such horrors today that my tears count for nothing.
The Kingmaker’s Daughter
5
Make them understand that-thatyou are perfectly willing to work for nothing.
Autobiography of mark twain, vol. 1
1
I spent year after year trying to appease them, to no avail.
Wired
2
I've asked Google to fix this issue many times, to no avail.
Wired
3
The exchange has long sought to lure technology businesses to no avail.
Reuters
4
Vincavec had Called to the Mammoth Spirit several times to no avail.
The Mammoth Hunters
5
I'd tried that several times in the last weeks, to no avail.
Coyote dreams
1
But to no purpose; months passed and he had been almost forgotten.
A Rip Van Winkle of the Kalahari, and Other Tales of South-West ...
2
The king spoke with them in many ways, but to no purpose.
Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
3
Von Bloom tried bleeding, and various other remedies; but to no purpose.
The Bush Boys: History and Adventures of a Cape Farmer and his F...
4
Mr Adams prayed, and Mrs Slipslop scolded; but all to no purpose.
Joseph Andrews, Vol. 1
5
But all to no purpose; they did not, could not bring forgetfulness.
A Few Short Sketches
Usage of in vain in English
1
I coaxed; I threatened; I persuaded; but it was all in vain.
The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont
2
They organize in vain; they protest in vain; they appeal in vain.
Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South
3
Mark inquired; Lord Minchampstead inquired; great personages inquired; but all in vain.
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 05 — Fiction
4
Her aunt scolded in vain; in spite of the remarks of Mlle.
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Vol...
5
The room was empty; she searched him in all niches in vain.
Andrea Delfin
6
But it was in vain; the tumult was constantly on the increase.
Louisa of Prussia and Her Times: A Historical Novel
7
And in the midst of the fleecy tangle Snowball struggled in vain.
The Tale of Snowball Lamb
8
Faith is desire; and desires rooted in faith cannot be in vain.
Expositions of Holy Scripture: the Acts
9
Everywhere in the city, honest men begged for honest work in vain.
The Godfather
10
Several times I argued with him and the Cardinal; but in vain.
Memoirs of Louis XIV and His Court and of the Regency — Volume 1...
11
Perhaps it was a roe deer; McKay flashed the direction in vain.
In Secret
12
It was all in vain; the move turned out to be premature.
South America
13
The best medical aid was summoned from Cincinnati; it was in vain.
Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet / ...
14
The cabinet ministers telephoned in vain; he was out, the maid said.
Purple Springs
15
No, Harold in vain sent me the casket; the jewel was gone.
Harold : the Last of the Saxon Kings — Volume 07
16
They listened in vain, and consulted all the clocks in the house.
The Luckiest Girl in the School
This collocation consists of:
Translations for in vain
In vain through the time
In vain across language varieties
United Kingdom
Common
United States of America
Less common