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
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Precious Achiuwa also made an impact in another start for OG Anunoby, who missed Wednesday’s game against the Hawks with a right foot sprain.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2025
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
Following a rough 104-83 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Charlotte Hornets announced LaMelo Ball will be re-evaluated in a week after spraining his ankle in Monday’s defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sprain 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Sources inform Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon of ESPN that rim-rolling center Daniel Gafford has incurred a Grade 3 right MCL sprain.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Precious Achiuwa also made an impact in another start for OG Anunoby, who missed Wednesday’s game against the Hawks with a right foot sprain.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
Watson, 22, sprained his knee during a collision late in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia on Friday.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
Following a rough 104-83 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Charlotte Hornets announced LaMelo Ball will be re-evaluated in a week after spraining his ankle in Monday’s defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2025
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 21 Feb. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share