strain
verb (used with object)
to draw tight or taut, especially to the utmost tension; stretch to the full.
are straining
-
present progressiveof strain.present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
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.
She is tired, her muscles are sore and her eyes are straining, but when her shift ends at six in the morning and she finally gets home, she struggles to sleep.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Now disagreements over Lebanon and negotiations with Tehran are straining the partnership.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
Eight in 10 Americans say gasoline prices are straining their household budgets, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll.
From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026
The buildout comes at a cost: power-hungry facilities are straining local grids and driving up electricity bills, contributing to a nearly 17 percent jump in the average New Jersey household's energy costs last year.
From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026
My eye muscles are straining to work out the layout of his features.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
