Words / B2

VAYN/veɪn/

Vain as the headword means too proud of your looks, abilities, or success: a vain person; vain about. Conceited and narcissistic are close twins; proud can be neutral. Calling a character vain is not analysis; quote the line about looks or status. Mix-up: vain vs vein / vane (homophones); in vain is a different idiom meaning without success (they tried in vain) — useful in the same lesson, but it is not this adjective sense; do not write vain for a useful attempt that merely failed unless the source uses in vain.

Meaning

Too proud of your looks, abilities, or success (in vain = without success).

Examples

• “Calling a character vain is not analysis; quote the line about looks or status.”
• “They searched in vain, which is the idiom “without success” — still name what was not found; that is not the proud-adjective sense.”

Good to know

vain about looks / success; a vain person. Close: conceited / proud. Homophones: vein / vane. Idiom: in vain = without success (teach the contrast). Trap: a failed plan with no pride. English and PSHE. Too proud of appearance or success — quote the boast; keep in vain separate.

Near in meaning

conceited, proud, self-admiring

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