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
CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Jett Howard was added to Orlando’s injury report Sunday afternoon and ruled out because of a left ankle sprain.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2026
CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
About the only question in this one concerned the health of Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American who landed on an Arizona player’s foot, rolled his ankle and sprained his knee — but still had 11 points over 14 minutes.
—Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
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Noun
Jock Landale was out for the Hawks with a right high ankle sprain sustained during Atlanta's 130-101 win against Orlando on Wednesday night.
—CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Jett Howard was added to Orlando’s injury report Sunday afternoon and ruled out because of a left ankle sprain.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Ball was walking around in a boot Sunday after spraining his left foot in the first half of UConn's 71-62 win over Illinois.
—CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
About the only question in this one concerned the health of Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American who landed on an Arizona player’s foot, rolled his ankle and sprained his knee — but still had 11 points over 14 minutes.
—Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprain
Cite this Entry
“Sprain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprain. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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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