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.
Arini is one of the few such specialists in Europe, where high fuel prices and rising government bond yields in countries like France are straining companies even further.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Bond markets in the West are straining to contain yields.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
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
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
The veins in her neck and face are straining, pushing out from her skin.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
