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

There is good news on the Jets’ injury front after rookie tight end Mason Taylor (high ankle sprain) and left guard John Simpson (back) both returned to practice. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025

And now Amed Rosario (left SC joint sprain) is also on the IL with a shoulder injury after crashing into the right-field wall during Friday’s game. —Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025

Verb

Catcher Miguel Amaya had just returned from a nearly 12-week absence on Tuesday, but in Wednesday’s 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays, he was carted off the field after badly spraining his ankle and will require a stint on the injured list. —Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025

Ford sprained his ankle in Week 3, and the following week, Siekierski was hurt, forcing Pucylowski to move a linebacker into the quarterback role. —Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 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