1
2
3
strained; straining; strains
1
a
: to draw tight : cause to fit firmly
strain the bandage over the wound
b
: to stretch to maximum extension and tautness
strain a canvas over a frame
2
a
: to exert (oneself, one's senses, etc.) to the utmost
b
: to injure by overuse, misuse, or excessive pressure
strained his back
c
: to cause a change of form or size in (a body) by application of external force
4
5
: to stretch beyond a proper limit
that story strains my credulity
6
obsolete
: to squeeze out : extort
1
a
: to make violent efforts : strive
has to strain to reach the high notes
b
: to pull against resistance
a dog straining at its leash
c
: to contract the muscles forcefully in attempting to defecate
—often used in the phrase strain at stool
2
: to pass through or as if through a strainer
the liquid strains readily
3
: to make great difficulty or resistance : balk
1
a
: bodily injury from excessive tension, effort, or use
heart strain
especially
: one resulting from a wrench or twist and involving undue stretching of muscles or ligaments
back strain
b
: excessive or difficult exertion or labor
c
: excessive physical or mental tension
also
: a force, influence, or factor causing such tension
a strain on the marriage
d
: deformation of a material body under the action of applied forces
2
: an unusual reach, degree, or intensity : pitch
3
archaic
: a strained interpretation of something said or written
Synonyms
Examples of strain in a Sentence
Verb
I strained my back trying to lift the couch.
Too much computer work strains the eyes.
He strained a muscle in his leg.
His muscles strained under the heavy weight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2024
While the fact that flu strains typically spread between members of the same species may be comforting, parents may understandably be alarmed by news that a person and numerous dairy cows have tested positive and that remnants of the virus were detected in common food products.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 2 May 2024
Bird flu is always a potentially serious threat in part because flu strains native to birds are less familiar to the immune system of humans and other mammals.
—Ed Cara / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 May 2024
About 16,000 pounds of ground beef products shipped to Walmart stores nationwide were recalled Wednesday because they might be contaminated with the harshest strain of E. coli.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024
In just his second game back from an intercostal strain, Correa tied the game in the eighth with a two-out single on the first pitch of his at-bat off White Sox (6-24) reliever Jordan Leasure.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 1 May 2024
For instance, certain strains may be helpful, but only if they’re paired and taken with other ones too.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 1 May 2024
Advice from an expert:Eye strain in a digital age
USA TODAY Tech columnist Kim Komando shares ways to detach from your devices
Kim Komando wrote in a column for USA TODAY that people who are attached to their smartphones need to cut the screen time in half.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
The financial strain of singledom folds into womens’ life choices.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024
Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 4 May 2024
Trending Stories The 10 Best Places to Travel in June
The Best Hotels in Amsterdam
The system had been strained for years due to defunding of the Washington Department of Transportation and mandatory ship retirements, but worker attrition during the pandemic made things worse.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2024
In their place are generic invocations of 21st century feminist and racial-justice fights, plus the occasional dig at the real estate tycoon who became our 45th President, tied precariously together with thin strands of plot that strain believability.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 2 May 2024
More on India Bengaluru’s Water Crisis: The Silicon Valley of South Asia did not properly adapt as its soaring population strained traditional water sources.
—Mujib Mashal Atul Loke, New York Times, 1 May 2024
The $237 billion state budget passed by the Legislature this month includes no new funding to support guardianship services, despite reporting by ProPublica that showed how the state’s system is in shambles, with authorities straining to ensure proper care of elderly and sick wards.
—Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 30 Apr. 2024
The decision, expected as soon as Monday, would mark the first time the U.S. has ever imposed sanctions on a unit inside the Israeli military and further strains relations between the two allies, which have grown increasingly tense during Israel’s war in Gaza.
—Josef Federman, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Apr. 2024
That constant vigilance has strained the patience of some poultry farmers.
—Linda Qiu, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Two more insurers are pulling out of California’s troubled homeowners insurance market, straining a marketplace that already has seen the pullback of several other companies that have cited increase costs related to wildfire risks.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Noun
Lowe has only played 10 games since returning from a right oblique strain suffered during training camp but has hit the ball well with a .314 batting average with one home run and two RBIs.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2024
While the fact that flu strains typically spread between members of the same species may be comforting, parents may understandably be alarmed by news that a person and numerous dairy cows have tested positive and that remnants of the virus were detected in common food products.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 2 May 2024
Bird flu is always a potentially serious threat in part because flu strains native to birds are less familiar to the immune system of humans and other mammals.
—Ed Cara / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 May 2024
About 16,000 pounds of ground beef products shipped to Walmart stores nationwide were recalled Wednesday because they might be contaminated with the harshest strain of E. coli.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024
In just his second game back from an intercostal strain, Correa tied the game in the eighth with a two-out single on the first pitch of his at-bat off White Sox (6-24) reliever Jordan Leasure.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 1 May 2024
For instance, certain strains may be helpful, but only if they’re paired and taken with other ones too.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 1 May 2024
Advice from an expert:Eye strain in a digital age
USA TODAY Tech columnist Kim Komando shares ways to detach from your devices
Kim Komando wrote in a column for USA TODAY that people who are attached to their smartphones need to cut the screen time in half.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
The financial strain of singledom folds into womens’ life choices.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
This particular strain of K. pneumoniae was making between four and six times the quantity of alcohol that strains of the same bacteria make in healthy people.
—Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 4 May 2024
Trending Stories The 10 Best Places to Travel in June
The Best Hotels in Amsterdam
The system had been strained for years due to defunding of the Washington Department of Transportation and mandatory ship retirements, but worker attrition during the pandemic made things worse.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2024
In their place are generic invocations of 21st century feminist and racial-justice fights, plus the occasional dig at the real estate tycoon who became our 45th President, tied precariously together with thin strands of plot that strain believability.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 2 May 2024
More on India Bengaluru’s Water Crisis: The Silicon Valley of South Asia did not properly adapt as its soaring population strained traditional water sources.
—Mujib Mashal Atul Loke, New York Times, 1 May 2024
The $237 billion state budget passed by the Legislature this month includes no new funding to support guardianship services, despite reporting by ProPublica that showed how the state’s system is in shambles, with authorities straining to ensure proper care of elderly and sick wards.
—Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 30 Apr. 2024
The decision, expected as soon as Monday, would mark the first time the U.S. has ever imposed sanctions on a unit inside the Israeli military and further strains relations between the two allies, which have grown increasingly tense during Israel’s war in Gaza.
—Josef Federman, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Apr. 2024
That constant vigilance has strained the patience of some poultry farmers.
—Linda Qiu, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Two more insurers are pulling out of California’s troubled homeowners insurance market, straining a marketplace that already has seen the pullback of several other companies that have cited increase costs related to wildfire risks.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near strain
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strain. Accessed 7 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
strain
1 of 3 noun1
b
: a group of plants or animals that look alike but have characteristics (as the ability to resist disease) that make them slightly different : variety sense 3b
a strong strain of winter wheat
2
3
4
: the manner or style of something said or of a course of action or conduct
strain
2 of 3 verb1
a
: to draw tight : cause to clasp firmly
b
: to stretch to maximum extension and tightness
2
a
: to try one's hardest : strive
b
: to injure or be injured by overuse, misuse, or pressure
strained the heart by overwork
strain one's back by lifting
3
a
: to pass or cause to pass through or as if through a strainer : filter
b
: to remove by straining
strain lumps out of the gravy
4
: to stretch beyond a proper limit
strain the truth
strain
3 of 3 noun1
: an act of straining or the state of being strained
2
: bodily injury caused by too much tension, effort, or use
heart strain
especially
: one resulting from a wrench or twist and involving severe stretching of muscles or ligaments
back strain
Medical Definition
strain
1 of 3 noun
: a group of presumed common ancestry with clear-cut physiological but usually not morphological distinctions
a highly virulent strain of bacteria
strain
2 of 3 transitive verb1
a
: to exert (as oneself) to the utmost
b
: to injure by overuse, misuse, or excessive pressure
strained his heart by overwork
c
: to cause a change of form or size in (a body) by application of external force
2
: to cause to pass through a strainer
: to contract the muscles forcefully in attempting to defecate
—often used in the phrase strain at stool
strain
3 of 3 noun
a
: excessive physical or mental tension
also
: a force, influence, or factor causing such tension
b
: bodily injury from excessive tension, effort, or use
heart strain
especially
: one resulting from a wrench or twist and involving undue stretching of muscles or ligaments
back strain
compare sprain
c
: deformation of a material body under the action of applied forces
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share