strain
verb (used with object)
to draw tight or taut, especially to the utmost tension; stretch to the full.
straining
-
present participleof strain.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After years of chronic fuel shortages, the southern African nation also has the highest petrol prices on the continent, disrupting livelihoods and straining an economy starved of foreign currency.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
Beyond causing bloating, straining, and infrequent bowel movements, it can also interfere with daily life by increasing stress, reducing productivity, and lowering overall quality of life.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026
As a traveler, he was straining for an ideal, something still unrealized, that would inspire his countrymen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Major stock indexes hovering near records are masking a market straining under elevated oil prices, rising Treasury yields and a Federal Reserve bracing for additional interest-rate hikes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Me, DeShon, and Nessa, straining our necks upward, feel Jay’s every move.
From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
