sprainsprain /spreɪn/ ●○○ verb [transitive] 
I fell down the steps and sprained my ankle.► see thesaurus at hurt, injury—sprain noun [countable]: I thought my wrist might be broken, but it was just a bad sprain.
VERB TABLE
sprain
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | sprain |
| he, she, it | sprains | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | sprained |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have sprained |
| he, she, it | has sprained | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had sprained |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will sprain |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have sprained |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am spraining |
| he, she, it | is spraining | |
| you, we, they | are spraining | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was spraining |
| you, we, they | were spraining | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been spraining |
| he, she, it | has been spraining | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been spraining |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be spraining |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been spraining |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Amy fell down and sprained her ankle.
- I sprained my knee while I was playing basketball.
- You'll need strong walking boots in the mountains, if you don't want to sprain an ankle.
- A sprain or a broken leg.
- Although I knew it was badly sprained I did not feel it was broken.
- Backup guard / center Jesse Sapolu is questionable with a sprained left ankle.
- Cornerback Rod Woodson sprained his left groin.
- Left tackle Derrick Deese has a sprained right foot and is probable for the game.
- Sharks officials said it was a slight sprain.
- The bench pulls, for example, tugged away at my sprained pec.
- When a kid sprains her hand or jams her finger, which happens often, she tries to shake it out.
THESAURUSto injure yourself or someone else
to damage part of your body, or someone else’s body: · She slipped on the ice and hurt herself badly.· Be careful you don’t hurt anyone with that knife.
to hurt yourself quite severely, or to be hurt in an accident or fighting: · One of our players has injured his leg, and will be out of the game for weeks.· Four people have been seriously injured on the Arizona highway.
to deliberately hurt someone using a weapon such as a knife or gun: · The gunmen shot and killed twelve people and wounded three others.
[usually passive] to hurt someone very severely, especially so that they lose an arm, leg etc, often as the result of an explosion: · In countries where there are landmines, people are killed and maimed daily.
to hurt a part of your body by breaking a bone in it: · The X-ray showed that I had broken my wrist.
to hurt a part of your body when you fall on it or hit it, causing a dark mark to appear on your skin: · Cathy fell off her bike and bruised her legs badly.
to hurt your knee, wrist, shoulder etc by suddenly twisting it while you are moving: · I jumped down from the wall and landed awkwardly, spraining my ankle.
to hurt one of your muscles by stretching it or using it too much: · When you are lifting heavy loads, be careful not to strain a back muscle.
to damage a joint in your body in a way that moves the two parts of the joint out of their normal position: · Our best batsman dislocated his shoulder during training.
[usually passive] to make someone lose the ability to move part or all of their body: · A climbing accident had left him paralysed from the chest down.
damage to part of your body caused by an accident or an attack: · The passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
an injury, especially a deep cut in your skin made by a knife, bullet, or bomb: · He died of a gunshot wound to the head.
a small injury made when a sharp object cuts your skin: · Blood was running from a cut on his chin.
a dark mark on your skin that you get when you fall or get hit: · Jack often comes home from playing rugby covered in bruises.
a small injury that marks your skin or breaks the surface slightly: · She fell off her bike and got a few grazes on her legs and knees.
a long deep cut: · He had a deep gash across his forehead.
an area of skin that is swollen because you have hit it against something: · How did you get that bump on your head?
an injury to your ankle, wrist, knee etc, caused by suddenly twisting it: · It’s a slight sprain – you should rest your ankle for a week.
an injury to a muscle caused by stretching it or using it too much: · a muscle strain in his neck
a crack or broken part in a bone: · a hip fracture
Longman Language Activatordamage to a part of the body · The glass roof collapsed onto the crowd, causing horrific injuries.· Our insurance provides cover in the case of illness or injury.leg/back etc injury · Unfortunately, she had to withdraw from the game because of a leg injury.serious injury · Wearing a helmet may protect you from serious injury.suffer an injury (=be injured) · He suffered serious injuries in the car crash, and died on the way to hospital.escape injury (=not be injured) · Ten passengers were lucky to escape injury when their train was derailed last night.injury to your leg/chest etc · Morrison had to undergo surgery on an injury to his left knee.
an injury caused by a weapon such as a knife, gun, or bomb: deep wound: · The wound was deep and needed eighteen stitches.bullet/stab/gunshot etc wound: · Barratt was taken to the hospital with stab wounds to his chest and neck.wound to the leg/chest etc: · He died of a single gunshot wound to the left side of his head.
a dark, painful mark on your skin where you have fallen or been hit: · Jenny looked as though she'd been crying, and there was a nasty bruise on her cheek.be covered in cuts and bruises: · Jack often comes home from rugby covered in cuts and bruises.
an injury in which you hurt a joint by twisting or pulling it suddenly and awkwardly: · It's a slight sprain - you should rest it for a few days.ankle/shoulder/knee etc sprain: · Robinson is suffering from an ankle sprain, and can't train this week.
written an injury that will take a long time to get better or that may never get better: · Never look straight at the sun. Any damage to the retina could cause permanent blindness.· Rubella is a serious infection, which can cause severe physical damage to the unborn child.
to hurt a part of your body if you hurt a part of your body, you accidentally damage it so that it feels painful or you cannot move it easily: · Nick's hurt his back, and the doctor says he will have to rest for a few weeks.· I can't go running this week - I've hurt my foot.hurt yourself: · That's a sharp knife. Be careful you don't hurt yourself.
to hurt a part of your body, especially seriously and in a way that takes a long time to get better: · Tom injured his shoulder playing tennis.injure yourself: · Many elderly people injure themselves in their own homes, for example by slipping in the bath.
to hurt a part of your body when you fall or hit it against something, causing a dark, painful mark to form on your skin: · Mom fell on the ice and bruised the side of her leg.badly bruise: · Keller badly bruised a hip, and came off early in the second half of the match.· My skin bruises quite easily.
to hurt your knee, wrist, or another joint by twisting or pulling it suddenly and awkwardly: · I sprained my knee while I was playing basketball.· You'll need strong walking boots in the mountains, if you don't want to sprain an ankle.
to break a bone in your body: · It was such bad luck - it was our first time skiing and Nicola broke her leg.
to hurt your knee or another joint, by turning it too suddenly or strongly while you are moving: · I couldn't play, having twisted my knee in the previous night's game.· The doctor said that I'd wrenched my shoulder and shouldn't drive for a while.
: pull a muscle to injure a muscle by stretching it too much, especially during hard physical activity: · I pulled a muscle trying to move the piano into the apartment.· Crawford had been ordered to take a day's rest after pulling a leg muscle.
written to injure a part of your body fairly seriously, especially in a way that means it will take a long time to get better or will never get better: · Lewis damaged his knee in training and will not appear in the game.· When carrying out the operation, doctors have to take great care not to damage the delicate nerve endings.
to injure a joint by falling on it or stretching it so that the two parts of the joint are moved out of their normal position and stay out of position: · Sam dislocated his shoulder in a riding accident.
if part of your body is bleeding , blood is coming out of it because you have been injured: · His head was bleeding, and he'd obviously been in a fight.be bleeding from: · John saw that he was bleeding from some sort of wound on his chest.be bleeding heavily/profusely (=a lot of blood is coming out): · The cut on her leg had opened again and was bleeding heavily.
WORD SETSabscess, nounache, verbache, nounacne, nounagoraphobia, nounagoraphobic, nounague, noun-aholic, suffixAIDS, nounailment, nounairsick, adjectivealbino, nounalcoholic, nounalcoholism, nounallergic, adjectiveallergy, nounamnesia, nounamputee, nounanaemia, nounanaemic, adjectiveangina, nounanorexia, nounanorexic, adjectiveantacid, nounanthrax, nounantibody, nounantidepressant, nounantidote, nounantigen, nounantihistamine, nounanti-inflammatory, adjectiveantitoxin, nounapoplectic, adjectiveapoplexy, nounappendicitis, nounarteriosclerosis, nounarthritis, nounaseptic, adjectiveaspirin, nounasthma, nounastigmatism, nounasymptomatic, adjectiveathlete's foot, nounatrophy, verbauto-immune disease, nounAyurvedic medicine, nounbaby blues, nounbacillus, nounbackache, nounbark, verbbattle fatigue, nounBCG, nounbedridden, adjectivebedsore, nounbed-wetting, nounbellyache, nounbenign, adjectiveberiberi, nounbespectacled, adjectivebetter, adjectivebilious, adjectivebinge, verbbiopsy, nounbirthmark, nounbite, verbbite, nounblack and blue, adjectiveBlack Death, the, black eye, nounblackout, nounbleed, verbbleeding, nounblind, verbblister, nounblister, verbblood bank, nounblood donor, nounblood poisoning, nounbloodshot, adjectiveblood transfusion, nounbloody, adjectivebloody, verbblue baby, nounboil, nounbotulism, nounbrain damage, nounbreakdown, nounbronchitis, nounbruise, nounbruise, verbBSE, nounbubonic plague, nounbug, nounbulimia, nounbump, nounbunion, nounbuzz, verbcalloused, adjectivecallus, nouncancer, nouncandida, nouncanker, nouncarbuncle, nouncarcinogen, nouncarcinogenic, adjectivecarcinoma, nouncardiac, adjectivecardiovascular, adjectivecaries, nouncarpal tunnel syndrome, nouncarrier, nouncarry, verbcarsick, adjectivecast, nouncasualty, nouncataract, nouncatarrh, nouncatatonic, adjectivecatching, adjectivecauliflower ear, nouncerebral palsy, nouncertify, verbcervical smear, nounchapped, adjectivecharley horse, nounchemotherapy, nounchesty, adjectivechicken pox, nounchilblains, nounChinese medicine, nouncholera, nounchronic, adjectivecirrhosis, nounCJD, nouncleanse, verbcleft palate, nounclinic, nounclinical, adjectiveclub foot, nouncold, nouncold sore, nouncolic, nouncolitis, nouncollapse, verbcolour-blind, adjectivecoma, nouncommon cold, nouncommon denominator, nouncommunicate, verbcomplaint, nouncomplicate, verbcomplication, nouncompound fracture, nounconcuss, verbconcussion, nouncondition, nouncongenital, adjectivecongested, adjectiveconjunctivitis, nounconstipation, nounconsumption, nounconsumptive, nouncontagion, nouncontagious, adjectivecontinent, adjectivecontract, verbcontusion, nounconvalesce, verbconvulsion, nouncorn, nouncortisone, nouncot death, nouncough, nounCPR, nouncrack-up, nouncramp, nounCreutzfeldt-Jakob disease, nouncrick, nouncrick, verbcripple, nouncripple, verbcross-eyed, adjectivecroup, nouncurable, adjectivecut, nouncyst, nouncystic fibrosis, nouncystitis, noundecompression sickness, noundeep vein thrombosis, noundeformity, noundegenerative, adjectivedehydrate, verbdelirious, adjectivedelirium, noundelusion, noundementia, noundengue fever, noundepression, noundermatitis, noundiabetes, noundiabetic, adjectivediabetic, noundiagnosis, noundialysis, noundiaper rash, noundiarrhoea, noundiphtheria, noundisability, noundisable, verbdisabled, adjectivedischarge, verbdisease, noundisgorge, verbdislocate, verbdisorder, noundissipated, adjectivedissipation, noundistemper, noundistend, verbdizzy, adjectivedoddering, adjectivedoddery, adjectivedonate, verbdonor, noundouble vision, noundoughy, adjectivedown, adverbDown's syndrome, noundrawn, adjectivedressing, noundrinker, noundrunk, adjectivedrunk, noundrunken, adjectivedull, adjectivedumb, adjectiveDVT, noundysentery, noundyslexia, noundyspepsia, noundyspeptic, adjectiveearache, nouneating disorder, nounEbola, nounectopic pregnancy, nouneczema, nounemaciated, adjectiveemasculate, verbembolism, nounemphysema, nounencephalitis, nounendoscope, nounenervate, verbenteritis, nounepidemic, nounepilepsy, nounepileptic, adjectiveepileptic, nounetiology, nounexcruciating, adjectiveexposure, nouneyeless, adjectiveeye strain, nounfail, verbfaint, nounfester, verbfever, nounfever blister, nounfevered, adjectivefeverish, adjectivefirst aid, nounfit, nounflat feet, nounflat-footed, adjectiveflu, nounfood poisoning, nounfoot and mouth disease, nounfracture, verbfracture, nounfrostbite, noungall, noungammy, adjectiveganglion, noungangrene, noungas, noungash, noungastric, adjectivegastritis, noungastroenteritis, nounGerman measles, nounget, verbgingivitis, nounglandular fever, nounglaucoma, noungnarled, adjectivegonorrhea, noungout, noungrand mal, noungraze, verbgraze, noungriping, adjectivegroggy, adjectivegrowing pains, noungrowth, noungush, verbgynaecology, nounhacking cough, nounhaemophilia, nounhaemophiliac, nounhaemorrhage, nounhaemorrhage, verbhaemorrhoids, nounhalitosis, nounhandicap, nounhandicapped, adjectivehangover, nounhard of hearing, adjectiveharelip, nounhay fever, nounheadache, nounhealth, nounheart attack, nounheartburn, nounheart disease, nounheart failure, nounheat exhaustion, nounheat rash, nounheatstroke, nounheave, verbhepatitis, nounhernia, nounherpes, nounHIV, nounhormone replacement therapy, nounhospital, nounhospitalize, verbhot flush, nounhousebound, adjectiveHRT, nounhump, nounhumpback, nounhunchback, nounhungover, adjectivehydrophobia, nounhypertension, nounhypothermia, nounhysterectomy, nounhysteria, nounhysterical, adjectiveillness, nounimmune, adjectiveimmune system, nounimmunity, nounimmunize, verbimmunology, nounimpacted, adjectiveimpediment, nounimpetigo, nounimpotent, adjectiveincision, nounincontinent, adjectiveincubate, verbincurable, adjectiveindigestion, nounindisposed, adjectiveindisposition, nouninfantile, adjectiveinfantile paralysis, nouninfect, verbinfected, adjectiveinfection, nouninfectious, adjectiveinfirmity, nouninflammation, nouninflammatory, adjectiveinfluenza, nouninfusion, nouningrowing, adjectiveinoculate, verbinoperable, adjectiveinsane, adjectiveinsanity, nouninsomnia, nouninsomniac, nouninstability, nounintensive care, nounintravenous, adjectiveinvalid, nouninvalidity, nouninvasive, adjectiveirregular, adjectiveirritable bowel syndrome, nounirritant, nounirritate, verbirritated, adjectiveirritation, noun-ism, suffixisolation, nounjaundice, nounjaundiced, adjectivejet lag, nounknock-kneed, adjectiveknotted, adjectivelaceration, nounlaryngitis, nounlegionnaire's disease, nounleper, nounleprosy, nounlesion, nounleukemia, nounlisp, nounlisteria, nounliverish, adjectivelockjaw, nounlong-sighted, adjectiveloose, adjectivelozenge, nounlumbago, nounlunacy, nounLyme disease, nounmad cow disease, nounmalady, nounmalaise, nounmalaria, nounmalformation, nounmalignancy, nounmalignant, adjectivemalnourished, adjectivemalnutrition, nounmange, nounmangy, adjectivemania, nounmanic, adjectivemanic depression, nounmastitis, nounME, nounmeasles, nounmedicinal, adjectivemegalomania, nounmegalomaniac, nounmelancholia, nounmelancholic, adjectivemelanoma, nounmend, verbmeningitis, nounmentally handicapped, adjectivemigraine, nounmild, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmole, nounmongol, nounmono, nounmononucleosis, nounmorbid, adjectivemorning sickness, nounmoron, nounmotion sickness, nounmotor neurone disease, nounMRI, nounMRSA, nounMS, nounmultiple sclerosis, nounmumps, nounmurmur, nounmusclebound, adjectivemuscular dystrophy, nounmute, adjectivemute, nounmyopia, nounmyopic, adjectivemyxomatosis, nounnarcolepsy, nounnausea, nounnauseate, verbnauseous, adjectivenearsighted, adjectivenervous breakdown, nounnettle rash, nounneuralgia, nounneurosis, nounneurotic, adjectivenosebleed, nounnotifiable, adjectiveNSU, nounobesity, nounoff-colour, adjectiveoperate, verboperation, nounophthalmic, adjectiveophthalmology, noun-osis, suffixosteoarthritis, nounosteopathy, nounosteoporosis, nounoutpatient, nounoverbite, nounpacemaker, nounpaediatrics, nounpale, adjectivepallid, adjectivepallor, nounpalpitate, verbpalpitations, nounpalsy, nounpandemic, nounparalyse, verbparalysed, adjectiveparalysis, nounparalytic, adjectiveparalytic, nounparanoia, nounparaplegia, nounparaplegic, nounparasitic, adjectiveParkinson's disease, nounparoxysm, nounpasty, adjectivepasty-faced, adjectivepathogen, nounpathological, adjectivepathology, nounpeaked, adjectivepeaky, adjectivepellagra, nounpeptic ulcer, nounperforated, adjectiveperiod pain, nounperitonitis, nounpernicious anaemia, nounpersecution complex, nounpestilence, nounpestilential, adjectivepetit mal, nounpharyngitis, nounphlebitis, nounphlegm, noun-phobic, suffixphysiotherapy, nounpigeon-toed, adjectivepins and needles, nounplacebo, nounplague, nounplaque, nounplaster cast, nounpleurisy, nounPMS, nounPMT, nounpneumonia, nounpockmark, nounpockmarked, adjectivepoisoning, nounpolio, nounpolyp, nounpoor, adjectivepost-traumatic stress disorder, nounpremenstrual tension, nounprescribe, verbprescription, nounpreventive medicine, nounprickle, verbprickly heat, nounprognosis, nounprolapse, nounprophylactic, adjectiveprophylactic, nounprophylaxis, nounpsoriasis, nounpsychopath, nounpsychosis, nounpsychosomatic, adjectivepsychotic, adjectivepuffy, adjectivepull, verbpurulent, adjectivepus, nounpustule, nounqueasy, adjectiverabid, adjectiverabies, nounradiation sickness, nounradiography, nounrash, nounraw, adjectivereact, verbreaction, nounreceive, verbrecuperate, verbrecuperative, adjectiveregurgitate, verbrelapse, verbremission, nounrepetitive strain injury, nounresistance, nounrespond, verbretch, verbRhesus factor, nounrheumatic, adjectiverheumatic fever, nounrheumatism, nounrheumatoid arthritis, nounrickets, nounringworm, nounRSI, nounrubella, nounrun-down, adjectiverunny, adjectiverupture, nounsaddle-sore, adjectivesalmonella, nounscab, nounscabby, adjectivescabies, nounscald, verbscald, nounscaly, adjectivescar, nounscar, verbscarlet fever, nounschizophrenia, nounsciatica, nounsclerosis, nounscrape, verbscrape, nounscratch, nounscurvy, nounseasick, adjectiveseizure, nounself-examination, nounsenile, adjectivesenile dementia, nounsenseless, adjectivesepsis, nounseptic, adjectivesepticaemia, nounserum, nounset, verbsexually transmitted disease, nounshell shock, nounshell-shocked, adjectiveshingles, nounshock, nounshort-sighted, adjectivesickle-cell anaemia, nounsickly, adjectivesickness, nounside effect, nounsightless, adjectivesimple fracture, nounsleeping sickness, nounslipped disc, nounsmallpox, nounsnakebite, nounsnow blindness, nounsore, adjectivesore, nounspastic, adjectivespecial needs, nounspecimen, nounspina bifida, nounsprain, verbsputum, nounsquint, verbsquint, nounstammer, nounstarvation, nounstarve, verbSTD, nounstomachache, nounstone, nounstrain, nounstrain, verbstrangulated, adjectivestrep throat, nounstroke, nounsty, nounsuccumb, verbsufferer, nounsunstroke, nounsuperbug, nounsurgical, adjectiveswelling, nounswollen, adjectivesymptom, nounsymptomatic, adjectivesyndrome, nounsyphilis, nounTB, nountear, verbtetanus, nountherapeutic, adjectivetherapy, nounthrombosis, nounthrush, nountic, nountight, adjectivetingle, verbtinnitus, nountipsy, adjectivetonsillitis, nountoothache, nountorment, nountourniquet, nountoxaemia, nountoxic shock syndrome, nountraction, nountransfusion, nountrauma, nountravel sickness, nountreatment, nountremor, nountuberculosis, nountumour, nountunnel vision, nountwinge, nountwitch, nountyphoid, nountyphus, nounulcer, nounulcerate, verbultrasound, noununderweight, adjectiveundressed, adjectiveunhealthy, adjectiveuntreated, adjectivevaccinate, verbvaccine, nounvaricose veins, nounVD, nounvenereal disease, nounverruca, nounvertigo, nounviral, adjectivevirology, nounvirulent, adjectivevomit, verbvomit, nounwart, nounweak, adjectiveweal, nounweep, verbwheeze, verbwheeze, nounwheezy, adjectivewhiplash, nounwhooping cough, nounwind, nounwithered, adjectivewound, nounwrench, verbwriter's cramp, nounyaws, nounyeast infection, nounyellow fever, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I fell down the steps and sprained my ankle.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Janet slipped on the stairs and twisted her ankle.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
to damage a joint in your body by suddenly twisting it SYN twist: I fell down the steps and sprained my ankle. Janet slipped on the stairs and twisted her ankle.· Young missed the last two games with a sprained ankle and a sprained foot, left and right, respectively.· Rookie Michael Finley, who played every regular-season game, never saw action against the Spurs because of an ankle sprain.· The guard said he has played a little sluggish because of the flu and an ankle sprain he suffered two weeks ago.
· Just a few weeks ago she fell on a toy brick and sprained her foot badly!· Left tackle Derrick Deese has a sprained right foot and is probable for the game.· Left guard Ray Brown also missed Sunday with a sprained left foot.· Young missed the last two games with a sprained ankle and a sprained foot, left and right, respectively.· A badly sprained foot can keep a player out eight weeks.
· Starting cornerback Tyronne Drakeford also left the game in the third quarter with a sprained left knee.· Jacksonville defensive end Jeff Lagemann left the game in the second quarter with a sprained knee....· He came out of it with a sprained knee and would not be able to play for six or seven weeks.· Center Chris Dalman sprained his left knee.· It got worse after Ray Brown came out with a sprained knee in the second half.· Chargers cornerback Mark Montreuil sprained his right knee and linebacker Toran James strained his right knee.· Tackle Russell Maryland sat out three games with a sprained knee and a sprained toe.
I fell down the steps and sprained my ankle.► see thesaurus at hurt, injury—sprain noun [countable]: I thought my wrist might be broken, but it was just a bad sprain.