I tried vainly to lead him to the matter in hand.

My eyes vainly tried to focus on something that should have been there but wasn't.

"Then the police have vainly tried to lay hands on him?"

The girl was a fighter, trying vainly to help them by moving her feet.

He pulled and twisted his arms, trying vainly to free them.

He was caught in a net, vainly trying to fight to freedom.

And now there was nothing left for him to do, except to take the decisive step he had been vainly trying to put off.

Laurie watched as he tried vainly to get someone's attention.

Twice he opened his lips, and tried vainly to speak.

He brought it across his chest, and vainly tried to roll over.