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
Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2025
The Knicks ruled the forward out before Thursday’s home game against the Chicago Bulls, marking the sixth game in a row that Anunoby missed with a right foot sprain.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
Watson, 22, sprained his knee during a collision late in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia on Friday.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
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Noun
Allen played 31 minutes despite battling a right index finger sprain.
—Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2025
The Knicks ruled the forward out before Thursday’s home game against the Chicago Bulls, marking the sixth game in a row that Anunoby missed with a right foot sprain.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
After going 1-for-10 on three-point attempts since spraining his thumb in a Jan. 13 matchup against Detroit, Towns hit two of his four triples in Monday’s win over Memphis.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
Watson, 22, sprained his knee during a collision late in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia on Friday.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprain
Cite this Entry
“Sprain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprain. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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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