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

Starting center Neemias Queta missed Wednesday’s matchup with the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons with an ankle sprain, and Boston survived without him, holding on for a wild 117-114 victory at TD Garden that snapped Detroit’s 13-game winning streak. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025

Sam Okuayinonu’s high-ankle sprain Monday will keep him out through the Week 14 bye. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025

Verb

His most recent offseason was injury-plagued, with two months of recovery after spraining his knee ligament during the Lakers' first-round playoff loss to Minnesota followed by a painful bout of sciatica — pain in the nerves running from the buttocks and down the back of the legs. —CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025

The Knicks were also without two of their best players, as OG Anunoby (left hamstring strain) and Jalen Brunson (sprained right ankle) were unavailable on Monday. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Nov. 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