vainly C1 Topic:Nature & Landscape US /ˈveɪnli/ See IPA manual Freq #60321 Meanings 1 adv In a vain pursuit; to no avail. She searched vainly for her reflection in the shattered mirror. 2 adv With a vain attitude; in a self-approving manner. She stared vainly at her reflection in the mirror. 3 adv to no avail Thesaurus Synonyms 3 adv · to no avail in vain Etymology Inherited from Middle English vaynly, veynly, vaynely, veynely, equivalent to vain + -ly. Topics Nature & Landscape External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # vainly **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /ˈveɪnli/ **Frequency rank:** 60321 ## Meanings 1. In a vain pursuit; to no avail. 2. With a vain attitude; in a self-approving manner. 3. to no avail ## Examples - She searched vainly for her reflection in the shattered mirror. - She stared vainly at her reflection in the mirror. ## Etymology Inherited from Middle English vaynly, veynly, vaynely, veynely, equivalent to vain + -ly. ## Topics - Nature & Landscape markdown