sprain

1 of 2

noun

ˈsprān 

1

: a sudden or violent twist or wrench of a joint with stretching or tearing of ligaments

2

: a sprained condition

sprain

2 of 2

verb

sprained; spraining; sprains

transitive verb

: to injure by a sudden or severe twist

Examples of sprain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rams receiver Demarcus Robinson suffered a shoulder sprain against the Bills but returned to the game. —Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

Avery Morrow, who had been CSU’s bell cow for much of the season, was limited to just two carries against Fresno State due to an MCL sprain in his knee. —Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 27 Nov. 2024

Verb

But the 23-year-old has dealt with injuries this season, spraining his PCL in his knee in LA’s opener and missing the next five Rams games. —Ben Morse, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024

Toto was even injured when an actor playing a Winkie guard stepped on its paw and sprained it. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1622, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sprain

1 of 2 noun

ˈsprān 

1

: 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

ˈsprān 

: 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