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

Love looked like a star before suffering the sprain during his debut, and every back in his tier enters with question marks. — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Buttó hasn’t pitched since April after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot in his right arm, while Gage has been out since early July due to a left elbow sprain. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

Verb

Inter Miami has conceded 19 goals over the past seven games and looked especially vulnerable on Saturday in the absence of Brazilian center back Micael, who sprained his ankle in the previous game and is out indefinitely. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026

The Buckeyes’ season-long starter Kyle McCord was already off to Syracuse, and his initial replacement, Devin Brown (now at Weber State), sprained his ankle in the second quarter. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 22 July 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