English Reference
Noun

sprain

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈspɹeɪn/ UK /spɹˈeɪn/ sprain UK spelling sprained, spraining, sprains

n.an injury to a joint, usually in your ankle, where the ligaments are stretched or torn. It happens when you twist or turn your joint too far.

n.a partial or complete tear of a ligament, typically resulting from a sudden twisting motion of a joint. Often used to describe injuries to the ankle or wrist.


SIMPLE

He had a sprained ankle after playing soccer.

CONTEXTUAL

The athlete had to wear a brace for six weeks after suffering a severe sprain during the championship game.

COMPLEX

While a minor sprain may heal with rest and ice, a complete ligament rupture often requires surgical intervention to restore the joint's stability and prevent long-term arthritis.

A sprained ankle in a city usually means an inconvenient trip home or to the doctor, but a sprained ankle 5 miles from the trailhead may mean that someone will need to carry you.

The Conversation· 8 Sept 2026

1601, verb attested 1622. Possibly borrowed from Middle French espraindre (“to press out, to wring”), from Latin exprimere, in which case cognate to express.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin exprimere
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated