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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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 8 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share