sprain

1 of 2

noun

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
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Noun
Bosa didn’t generate his usual pass rush early against Tristin Wirfs and then also against journeyman Justin Skule when Wirfs left with a knee sprain. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024 Parsons being held out while healing from his ankle sprain was the right move. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
But that interior combination only played together for one half of football, as Avila sprained his knee in the second quarter of the season opener. Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024 In a season where their first baseman almost lost a son and had to leave the team, then battle the mental hurdles involved in seeing your son paralyzed, then severely sprained his ankle, then had an amazing World Series. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sprain 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sprain was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near sprain

Cite this Entry

“Sprain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprain. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sprain

1 of 2 noun
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
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on sprain

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