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 Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
Curry didn’t rush his recovery from the ankle sprain that knocked him out the previous three games, but made note of the point in the season the Warriors find themselves in when discussing his imminent return with reporters.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024
But not all aching stems from strains, sprains, or spasms (as those examples above can sometimes lead to); it can also be related to some type of arthritis in your spine.
—Sarah Klein, SELF, 5 Mar. 2024
Braun is questionable for the Sunflower Showdown because of an ankle sprain suffered Saturday at Baylor.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024
Miami was without Jimmy Butler (personal reasons), Josh Richardson (right shoulder dislocation), Terry Rozier (right knee sprain) and Dru Smith (right knee surgery).
—Anthony Sanfilippo, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024
Ekeler, who also turns 29 this offseason, had a difficult year in 2023 while dealing with a high-ankle sprain suffered in the Chargers’ opener.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
And that was moments before Cody Martin departed the game with a left ankle sprain.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024
Felix, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid, suffered a sprain of a ligament in his right ankle at the end of January and wasn't expected to be back so soon.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Shane Young, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Top-seeded Carlsbad played with 6-foot-9 center Jael Martin, who sprained an ankle Wednesday and sat out a semifinal win over La Jolla Country Day.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024
Rookie wing Cam Whitmore (11.9 ppg) sprained his ankle Friday and also sat out.
—Bill Trocchi, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024
In January, Grady sprained her left foot, aggravating an old fracture, and drove just over 8 miles to Grady Memorial seeking treatment.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024
The Heat was without Josh Richardson (right shoulder dislocation), Orlando Robinson (lower back spasms), Terry Rozier (sprained right knee) and Dru Smith (right knee surgery) for Friday’s win over the Pelicans.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024
But over the course of his last few features, the Japanese director has centered characters who are at at least mildly sprained, and trying hard to get by on hope and a homemade splint.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 3 Mar. 2024
But with Heat guards Josh Richardson (right shoulder dislocation) and Terry Rozier (sprained right knee) already out, Herro played Friday through the discomfort in his foot.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024
Madrid was still without Jude Bellingham, who sprained his ankle in the win against Girona last weekend.
—Tales Azzoni, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024
Noun
The Kings are missing third-leading scorer Malik Monk, who is out with a right MCL sprain.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
Curry didn’t rush his recovery from the ankle sprain that knocked him out the previous three games, but made note of the point in the season the Warriors find themselves in when discussing his imminent return with reporters.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024
But not all aching stems from strains, sprains, or spasms (as those examples above can sometimes lead to); it can also be related to some type of arthritis in your spine.
—Sarah Klein, SELF, 5 Mar. 2024
Braun is questionable for the Sunflower Showdown because of an ankle sprain suffered Saturday at Baylor.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024
Miami was without Jimmy Butler (personal reasons), Josh Richardson (right shoulder dislocation), Terry Rozier (right knee sprain) and Dru Smith (right knee surgery).
—Anthony Sanfilippo, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024
Ekeler, who also turns 29 this offseason, had a difficult year in 2023 while dealing with a high-ankle sprain suffered in the Chargers’ opener.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
And that was moments before Cody Martin departed the game with a left ankle sprain.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024
Felix, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid, suffered a sprain of a ligament in his right ankle at the end of January and wasn't expected to be back so soon.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
Bradley Beal sprained the ring finger on his shooting hand during the fourth quarter and couldn’t finish the game.
—Shane Young, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Top-seeded Carlsbad played with 6-foot-9 center Jael Martin, who sprained an ankle Wednesday and sat out a semifinal win over La Jolla Country Day.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024
Rookie wing Cam Whitmore (11.9 ppg) sprained his ankle Friday and also sat out.
—Bill Trocchi, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024
In January, Grady sprained her left foot, aggravating an old fracture, and drove just over 8 miles to Grady Memorial seeking treatment.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024
The Heat was without Josh Richardson (right shoulder dislocation), Orlando Robinson (lower back spasms), Terry Rozier (sprained right knee) and Dru Smith (right knee surgery) for Friday’s win over the Pelicans.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024
But over the course of his last few features, the Japanese director has centered characters who are at at least mildly sprained, and trying hard to get by on hope and a homemade splint.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 3 Mar. 2024
But with Heat guards Josh Richardson (right shoulder dislocation) and Terry Rozier (sprained right knee) already out, Herro played Friday through the discomfort in his foot.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024
Madrid was still without Jude Bellingham, who sprained his ankle in the win against Girona last weekend.
—Tales Azzoni, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024
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 19 Apr. 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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