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
Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Starting center Neemias Queta — who, like Tatum, was listed as questionable against Charlotte before being upgraded before tipoff — is doubtful to play against Atlanta with a right thumb sprain.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Kawhi Leonard, arguably the NBA’s best player over the past three months, sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s loss to the Sacramento Kings.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprain
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Noun
That doesn’t appear poised to significantly change this early in the season, even as Seiya Suzuki nears a return from his PCL sprain.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Starting center Neemias Queta — who, like Tatum, was listed as questionable against Charlotte before being upgraded before tipoff — is doubtful to play against Atlanta with a right thumb sprain.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
The 2018 World Cup champion and 2022 Golden Boot winner, Mbappé sprained his left knee in December but played through January before sitting out almost a month.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Kawhi Leonard, arguably the NBA’s best player over the past three months, sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s loss to the Sacramento Kings.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprain
Cite this Entry
“Sprain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprain. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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
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