1
: a sudden or violent twist or wrench of a joint with stretching or tearing of ligaments
2
: a sprained condition
sprained; spraining; sprains
: to injure by a sudden or severe twist
Examples of sprain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Joy Emeh, Health, 3 July 2024
The list includes colds and coughs, ear and eye infections, insect bites, minor burns, asthma, cuts, sprains, fractures and chest pain.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 3 July 2024
Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2024
Related Articles After spraining his ankle in the weight room between starts, Harrison is set to return Saturday.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sprain 
Noun
Poor posture or muscle sprains can also cause back pain.
—Joy Emeh, Health, 3 July 2024
The list includes colds and coughs, ear and eye infections, insect bites, minor burns, asthma, cuts, sprains, fractures and chest pain.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 3 July 2024
Verb
The ankle Santander sprained the previous April had flamed up in the offseason.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2024
Related Articles After spraining his ankle in the weight room between starts, Harrison is set to return Saturday.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sprain
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sprain
Cite this Entry
“Sprain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprain. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sprain
1 of 2 noun1
: a sudden or severe twisting of a joint with stretching or tearing of ligaments
2
: a condition that results from a sprain and is usually marked by pain and swelling
sprain
2 of 2 verb
: to injure by a sudden or severe twist
Medical Definition
sprain
1 of 2 noun
: a sudden or violent twist or wrench of a joint causing the stretching or tearing of ligaments and often rupture of blood vessels with hemorrhage into the tissues
also
: the condition resulting from a sprain that is usually marked by swelling, inflammation, hemorrhage, and discoloration compare strain entry 3 sense b
sprain
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to weaken (a joint or ligament) by sudden and violent twisting or wrenching : stretch (ligaments) injuriously without dislocation of the joint
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