sprain
Americanverb (used with object)
-
sprains,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sprained,
past participle, past
-
spraining
present participle
noun
-
sprains
plural
-
a violent straining or wrenching of the parts around a joint, without dislocation.
-
the condition of being sprained.
verb
noun
Synonym Usage
See strain 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sprainsimple
-
sprainssimple
-
have sprainedperfect
-
has sprainedperfect
-
am sprainingprogressive
-
are sprainingprogressive
-
is sprainingprogressive
-
have been sprainingperfect progressive
-
has been sprainingperfect progressive
Past
-
sprainedsimple
-
had sprainedperfect
-
was sprainingprogressive
-
were sprainingprogressive
-
had been sprainingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sprain
First recorded in 1595–1605; origin uncertain
Explanation
To sprain one of your joints is to twist it suddenly. The result is a sprain, in which the ligaments have been injured. Don’t go hiking in high heels because you might sprain your ankle. A sprain — which occurs at joints such as the wrist, elbow, or knee — happens when the ligaments are turned quickly and painfully. After the initial pain, a sprain will swell up. Spraining something is difficult, but things could be worse — a sprained knee will heal quicker than a broken bone.
Vocabulary lists containing sprain
That Hurts! Synonyms for "Pain"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Home of the Brave
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Right tackle Joe Alt is out with a neck injury and left tackle Rashawn Slater was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery for a high-ankle sprain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
All-American Yaxel Lendeborg, gutting out a knee sprain, added 13.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026
He had surgery on his left knee that cut his final season at Arkansas short while he also missed six weeks with an MLC sprain in his right knee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026
Lyla had already spent more than a year dealing with pain that was initially thought to be a sprain or small fracture.
From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2026
A sprain would surely have healed by now.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Lower limb injuries including sprains, bone damage and wear and tear of the tendons are common, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
But the walk-in centre is not for medical emergencies, sprains, repeat prescriptions or long-term conditions.
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
Fact: Back pain is usually caused by muscle strains or sprains, not by a serious condition like a disc or vertebrae issue.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 15, 2025
Tran had his feet under the seat in front of him at the time of the incident and suffered contusions and sprains to his ankle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2024
They licked their lips and clucked their tongues in fond remembrance of pains they had endured—childbirth, rheumatism, croup, sprains, backaches, piles.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
Ian Howard was shocked to get a $1,000 bill for a brief visit to the emergency room that determined he sprained his ankle in a fall last year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
The team also played without forward Cameron Brink, who sprained her ankle on Monday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
Oklahoma City All-Star Jalen Williams has missed games with a hamstring injury, and San Antonio All-Star De’Aaron Fox is limping through contests on a sprained ankle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026
Thomas was taken to hospital, where he said he was lucky to only suffer "sprained ankles and minor stuff".
From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026
Was Noodles looking after him, making sure the swelling was going down, and keeping that sprained wrist stable?
From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds
Raducanu has not played since spraining ligaments in her foot during a Korea Open quarter-final against Daria Kasatkina on 21 September.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2024
Lakers guard Max Christie sat out after spraining his right ankle Thursday against Denver.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
She hasn’t played for the U.S. since spraining her right knee following the World Cup.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2023
Stouter shoes can also help prevent spraining an ankle, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2023
But what about mussing their dresses, what about spraining their ankles on high heels?
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
