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

Edgewater will, once again, be without standout running back Jahmari Hammonds, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in a Week 2 loss to The First Academy. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

What was initially diagnosed as a Grade 1 ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprain turned out to be much worse for the now 29-year-old reliever. — Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Verb

The Giants would not confirm reports that Dart sprained his MCL. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Cloé Lacasse, forward, Utah Royals Lacasse is playing her first full season for Utah after rupturing an ACL and spraining an MCL in 2024 and missing much of 2025. — Karan Lodha, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

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