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
Cathy Cassata, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Earlier this season, Lugo also missed time with a right middle finger sprain.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Roupp was carted off the field after spraining his left knee trying to maintain his balance after being hit on the backside by a Ramón Laureano line drive.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprain
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Noun
Sudden start and stop movements can also lead to a greater risk of calf strains and ankle sprains.
—Cathy Cassata, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Earlier this season, Lugo also missed time with a right middle finger sprain.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
After missing the Club World Cup with a thigh problem suffered in April, Camavinga sprained an ankle during pre-season.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Roupp was carted off the field after spraining his left knee trying to maintain his balance after being hit on the backside by a Ramón Laureano line drive.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 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 9 Sep. 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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