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
Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
He’s had to carry the weight up top with Rafael Navarro out with a high ankle sprain.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 1 June 2025
The fifth-year wing sprained his ankle, forcing him to the locker room.
—Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
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Noun
Forward Aaron Nesmith, who had 30 points and made 8 3’s in Game 1, had 3 points on 1 of 8 field goals and only played 15:52 as he was limited with a right ankle sprain.
—Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
He’s had to carry the weight up top with Rafael Navarro out with a high ankle sprain.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
Verb
Tomas Aviles sprained his ankle in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Montreal, but was on the bench on Saturday, available if needed.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 1 June 2025
The fifth-year wing sprained his ankle, forcing him to the locker room.
—Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 27 May 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 6 Jun. 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
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