futilefu‧tile /ˈfjuːtaɪl $ -tl/ ●○○ adjective 
a futile attempt to save the paintings from the flames My efforts to go back to sleep proved futile.it is futile to do something It was futile to continue the negotiations.—futility /fjuːˈtɪləti/ noun [uncountable]: This sums up Owen’s thoughts on the futility of war.
WORD ORIGINfutile
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin futilis ‘that pours out easily, useless’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- All efforts to save the child proved futile.
- Demonstrators condemned the summit as a futile and fruitless exercise.
- Kevin made one last futile attempt to persuade Sandra to go with him, then left.
- The goal is not to punish the rebels, but to convince them that it is futile to resist.
- Until attitudes at work are changed, attempts to improve performance are likely to prove futile.
- But a sense of apathy arises from the feeling that life is pointless and futile.
- It was all so sad, so depressing, so futile.
- The attempt to change his mind proved futile.
- The point to recognize is, of course, that it is futile to waste time classifying studies into neat little boxes.
THESAURUS
not likely to have a useful result: · She knew it would be pointless to argue with him.· The meeting was a pointless exercise.
completely pointless because there is no chance at all of being successful: · She shut the door in a futile attempt to keep the smell out.· Their efforts proved futile (=did not have any success).
not useful or effective in any way: · I knew it was useless to try to explain to him what had happened.· The map we had been given was useless.
having no hope of being successful or effective: · It was a hopeless task.· He was jumping up and down in a hopeless attempt to keep warm.
to be not worth the time, money etc that you use because you do not achieve anything: · The whole process was a complete waste of time.· The scheme was a waste of money.
Longman Language Activatoractions or activities that are useless if someone does something that is pointless , it does not seem to have any useful purpose and will not help anyone: · The argument was completely pointless.· pointless drug testing on animalsa pointless exercise (=something that you have to do that does not seem to have any purpose): · We had to change the sheets daily, which always seemed to me to be a pointless exercise.it is pointless doing something British: · It's pointless trying to speak to the manager -- she's always too busy.· Look, it's pointless us both waiting here -- I'll go and find a phone.it is pointless to do something: · The company says it is pointless to compete in the air package holiday market.· Simon was probably dead, and it was pointless to think he was coming back.
a futile effort or attempt to do something is completely pointless because there is no chance of its being effective or successful: · Kevin made one last futile attempt to persuade Sandra to go with him, then left.· Demonstrators condemned the summit as a futile and fruitless exercise.prove futile (=when an attempt ends without being successful): · All efforts to save the child proved futile.· Until attitudes at work are changed, attempts to improve performance are likely to prove futile.it is futile to do something: · The goal is not to punish the rebels, but to convince them that it is futile to resist.
if an activity is useless , it does not achieve anything or does not help anyone: · Numerous studies show that dieting is useless and may even cause weight gain.· I had to remind myself that worrying is a useless activity.it is useless to do something: · It was useless now to ask for help from my mother.· He knew it was useless to pretend to be innocent.it is useless doing something British: · It's useless trying to talk to you when you've had a drink.· I think it would be useless writing to the company -- they haven't even returned my calls.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a futile attempt to save the paintings from the flames My efforts to go back to sleep proved futile.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
actions that are futile are useless because they have no chance of being successful SYN pointless OPP worthwhilea futile attempt/effort a futile attempt to save the paintings from the flames My efforts to go back to sleep proved futile. (=certain to fail and not worth doing)· I jumped up and down in a futile attempt to keep warm.
(=having no chance of succeeding, and therefore not worth doing)· Doctors knew that any effort to save his life would be futile.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Policy strategies which attack the social and economic determinants of ill-health are dismissed as futile attempts at social engineering.· A number of women were quite bitter about their futile attempts to get clergy to help.· These are the remains of unfortunate wretches driven to kill themselves in a futile attempt to escape the torments of the Castle.· They showed no qualms in spending £3 billion in a futile attempt to prop up the Pound.
· Minutes later a team of paramedics began a futile effort to revive the boy.· Sundays he slept even later than usual, in a futile effort to avoid the day.
a futile attempt to save the paintings from the flames My efforts to go back to sleep proved futile.it is futile to do something It was futile to continue the negotiations.—futility /fjuːˈtɪləti/ noun [uncountable]: This sums up Owen’s thoughts on the futility of war.