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
Jesse Reed, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Avila’s progress will be monitored throughout the week, but McVay did not rule out entirely the possibility of the second-year lineman returning this week from the MCL sprain that’s kept him out since Week 1.
—Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024
Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Curry, 36, sprained his right index finger during practice on Thursday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sprain 
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Noun
Speaking with reporters on Monday, Moses divulged he’s been playing through an MCL sprain, a meniscus issue and a fracture in his knee, per Brian Costello of the New York Post.
—Jesse Reed, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Avila’s progress will be monitored throughout the week, but McVay did not rule out entirely the possibility of the second-year lineman returning this week from the MCL sprain that’s kept him out since Week 1.
—Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Freeman sprained his ankle September 26, and has struggled since.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Curry, 36, sprained his right index finger during practice on Thursday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sprain
Dictionary Entries Near sprain
Cite this Entry
“Sprain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprain. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
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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