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

Center Cooper Beebe suffered a lateral ankle sprain and foot fracture against the Giants and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025

Avila suffered the injury in the season opener, leaving in the first half before returning to finish the game after right guard Kevin Dotson left with his own ankle sprain. —Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025

Verb

Williams has been particularly impressive in wins over New Orleans and Arizona, and won points from the coaching staff for reentering the game after spraining a wrist chasing Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. —Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025

For New York, Breanna Stewart scored 30 points despite having sprained the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in her left knee in Sunday’s Game 1. —Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for sprain

• ane
• bane
• blain
• brain
• cane
• chaine
• cheyne
• deign
• drain
• fain
• fane
• feign

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