strain
strain — noun
1. a force that pushes, pulls, or stretches an object, sometimes reaching a point w
a force that pushes, pulls, or stretches an object, sometimes reaching a point where the object is at risk of damage or breaking
The old bridge was not designed to handle the strain of modern heavy trucks.
strain of + noun phrase showing source of pressure
Min checked every knot for signs of strain before beginning the climb.
signs of strain — visible evidence of pressure
The constant strain of the wind against the sail tore a small hole in the fabric.
strain + against + noun — direction of force
Sivan applied too much strain to the cable and it snapped with a loud noise.
Engineers measured the strain on each steel beam after the earthquake simulation.
measure the strain — technical usage
- put strain on
- place strain on
- signs of strain
- under strain
- strain on something
- relaxation
release of tension or strain
- release
letting go of built-up force
Usage Note
Often used with 'put/place (a) strain on [something]' to describe what is being stressed. Common in engineering and construction contexts, but also used for everyday physical tension (e.g., the strain on a rope).
Common Mistakes
2. a sore, swollen condition in muscle tissue caused by overstretching or overworki
a sore, swollen condition in muscle tissue caused by overstretching or overworking it beyond what it can handle
Shirin pulled a muscle in her leg and the doctor diagnosed a mild strain.
mild strain — severity gradation
Runners often get a hamstring strain if they skip their warm-up exercises before a race.
hamstring strain — specific body part collocation
Dahlia's back strain improved after three days of rest and gentle stretching.
Caleb suffered a groin strain during the football match and had to leave the field.
suffer a strain — verb collocation
Min's wrist strain got worse because he kept typing without taking any breaks.
- muscle strain
- hamstring strain
- back strain
- groin strain
- suffer a strain
- mild strain
- severe strain
Usage Note
Distinguish from sprain: a strain affects muscles or tendons, while a sprain affects ligaments (tissue connecting bones at a joint). Commonly modified by the body part: 'hamstring strain', 'back strain', 'groin strain'.
Common Mistakes
3. a feeling of worry, anxiety, or nervousness caused by having too many demands or
a feeling of worry, anxiety, or nervousness caused by having too many demands or problems to deal with, or a situation that produces this feeling
The strain of caring for two sick parents was beginning to show on Vivek's face.
the strain of + gerund — source of pressure
Financial strain often puts pressure on a marriage and can lead to arguments about money.
financial strain — common noun modifier
Lucía felt the strain of her final exams building as the date of the test came closer.
feel the strain — verb collocation
Working twelve-hour shifts without a day off put a huge strain on the hospital nursing staff.
put a strain on — common causative pattern
The constant strain of meeting impossible deadlines made Christopher consider looking for a different job.
- under strain
- put a strain on
- financial strain
- emotional strain
- mental strain
- strain of something
- feel the strain
- show the strain
Usage Note
Commonly appears in the pattern 'put/place (a) strain on [someone/something]' (the source of pressure) or 'under (a lot of) strain' (experiencing pressure). The container is typically not the same as 'stress' — 'strain' emphasises the burden being carried, while 'stress' focuses on the physiological/psychological response.
Common Mistakes
4. a particular quality or tendency in a person's character or in the atmosphere of
a particular quality or tendency in a person's character or in the atmosphere of something, often one that is inherited or runs deep
There is a strain of stubbornness in Sade that she clearly inherited from her grandmother.
a strain of + [abstract quality]
The comedian's humour has a dark strain that not everyone finds amusing at a family show.
Sivan noticed a competitive strain in her new colleague that came out during every team meeting.
competitive strain — specific quality
A rebellious strain runs through most of the poetry written during that period of history.
runs through — verb describing persistence
Despite his friendly manner, there was a strain of arrogance in the way Minh talked about his achievements.
- a strain of
- strain of stubbornness
- strain of humour
- strain of arrogance
- strain of violence
- strain of idealism
Grammar Patterns
a strain of + noun
Usage Note
Always singular in this sense. Typically followed by 'of' and an abstract noun (e.g., 'a strain of cruelty/melancholy/humour/idealism'). Describes a persistent, often underlying quality — not a temporary mood.
Common Mistakes
5. a subgroup within a species of animals, plants, or disease-causing organisms tha
a subgroup within a species of animals, plants, or disease-causing organisms that has its own distinct inherited features
Scientists have identified a new strain of the virus that spreads much faster than the original.
new strain of a virus — common in health news
This strain of wheat grows well in dry conditions and needs very little water compared to others.
strain of + [plant]
The farm raises a rare strain of sheep known for its unusually soft and warm wool.
A drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis has become a serious concern for public health officials.
drug-resistant strain — adjective + strain
Minho's family has been growing this strain of rice on their land for more than fifty years.
- new strain
- virus strain
- bacterial strain
- drug-resistant strain
- different strain
- strain of virus
- mutant strain
Usage Note
Very common in medical and agricultural contexts. For diseases, 'strain' refers to a variant of a virus or bacteria. For plants/animals, it refers to a subtype developed through breeding or natural selection. Not used for individual animals — the term refers to the type, not a single creature.
Common Mistakes
6. a melody or piece of music that reaches the ear, particularly one heard from som
a melody or piece of music that reaches the ear, particularly one heard from some distance away
The sweet strain of a violin drifted through the open windows of the old concert hall.
strain of + [instrument] — literary use
Minh could hear the familiar strain of a folk song coming from a small café across the street.
As the band played, the slow strain of the waltz filled the ballroom with a sense of nostalgia.
slow strain — adjective describing type of music
The distant strain of church bells reached the hikers as they walked through the valley below.
distant strain — describing sound from far away
A cheerful strain of piano music came from the living room, where Élise was practising her favourite piece.
- strain of music
- distant strain
- sweet strain
- familiar strain
- strains of a waltz
Usage Note
This sense is literary and somewhat old-fashioned. In modern everyday English, 'strain' is rarely used this way — 'tune', 'melody', or 'sound' are far more common. It often appears in descriptive or poetic writing, and frequently in the plural form ('strains of music').
A system or service that creaks under the strain is unable to handle everything it is supposed to do.
The city's bus system creaked under the strain of the festival crowds.
Our school's computer network creaked under the strain of online exams.
strain — verb
1. to run a mixture of liquid and solid food across a mesh utensil so that the liqu
to run a mixture of liquid and solid food across a mesh utensil so that the liquid drips into a container below while the solids stay in the utensil
After cooking the spaghetti, Élise strained it and mixed it with tomato sauce.
strain + cooked pasta — common cooking use
Min carefully strained the tea leaves from the hot water before pouring himself a cup.
strain + object + from + noun — separating
You should strain the broth through a fine sieve to remove all the small herb pieces.
strain through [utensil]
Christopher strained the seeds from the boiled fruit pulp to make smooth jelly.
The cook strained the rice and added a knob of butter before serving it with the curry.
- strain the liquid
- strain the vegetables
- strain through a sieve
- strain out
- strain the water
Grammar Patterns
strain + object
strain + object + through + noun
strain + object + out
Usage Note
Primarily used in cooking and food preparation. The object can be the liquid being separated, the food being drained, or the ingredient being removed (e.g., 'strain the vegetables', 'strain the water', 'strain out the seeds'). 'To strain through' specifies the tool used.
Common Mistakes
2. to stretch something tightly, push a part of your body or a system beyond its no
to stretch something tightly, push a part of your body or a system beyond its normal limits, or injure a muscle by overstretching it
Vivek strained his lower back when he lifted the heavy suitcase without bending his knees.
strain + body part — injure by overuse
The dog strained at the leash, barking and pulling toward the other dog across the park.
strain at — pull against resistance
Dahlia strained her eyes trying to read the tiny letters on the medicine bottle label.
strain one's eyes — fixed collocation
The heavy snow strained the old barn roof until the wooden beams began to crack.
Minho strained to hear what his grandparents were saying in the quiet conversation across the room.
strain + to infinitive — make an effort using senses
- strain a muscle
- strain one's back
- strain one's eyes
- strain one's voice
- strain at the leash
- strain to hear
- strain to see
- relax
to release tension in muscles or effort
Grammar Patterns
strain + body part
strain + oneself
strain + to + infinitive
strain + at/against + noun
Usage Note
Very versatile sense. As a transitive verb the object is often a body part (strain one's back/neck/eyes/voice) or a system/object under tension. As an intransitive verb (strain to do something / strain at something) it describes effort. 'Strain oneself' means to try too hard physically.
Common Mistakes
3. to use so much of something — especially money, time, or materials — that it bec
to use so much of something — especially money, time, or materials — that it becomes difficult to continue managing or providing it
The cost of building the new school strained the town's budget far beyond what was planned.
strain + budget — financial resource
Sade's unexpected hospital bills strained her savings to the point where she had to borrow money.
strain + savings + to the point where
The sudden increase in students has strained the school's classroom space and teaching resources.
Three years of drought severely strained the region's water supply during the hottest months.
severely strained — adverb intensifier
The disagreement over money began to strain Christopher's relationship with his business partner.
strain + relationship — interpersonal resource
- strain the budget
- strain resources
- strain the system
- strain relations
- strain a relationship
- severely strain
- strain to the limit
- overstretch
specifically about exceeding capacity; common with budgets and schedules
- overtax
formal; suggests burdening beyond reasonable limits
- overload
more about volume or amount than capacity
Grammar Patterns
strain + resource
strain + something + to the limit
Usage Note
The object is always the resource being overused (budget, savings, supplies, relationship, patience, etc.), not the thing causing the problem. Frequently used in financial and organisational contexts. Can also describe interpersonal relationships that are placed under difficult pressure.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- strainedadjectiveB2
- strainernounB1
- unstrainedadjectiveC1
- overstrainedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/3
These four words all describe difficult or taxing experiences, but each focuses on a different aspect. 'Strain' emphasises the burden or weight being carried — it is the load itself, whether mental, emotional, or physical. 'Stress' focuses on the body's reaction to demands, both psychological and physiological (e.g., 'stress hormones', 'stress headache'). 'Pressure' points to external forces pushing on someone — deadlines, expectations, or social demands. 'Tension' describes a state of being stretched between opposing forces, often involving uncertainty or conflict. For example: 'The financial strain of her son's university fees kept her awake at night' (the burden). 'She felt the pressure from her parents to choose a more stable career' (external demands). 'There was tension in the room after the argument' (a charged atmosphere between people). 'Job stress can lead to serious health problems' (the physical/mental reaction). In many contexts the words overlap, but picking the right one changes the shade of meaning.
Etymology
The word 'strain' comes from Old French 'estreindre', meaning to bind tightly or press together, which in turn comes from Latin 'stringere', meaning to draw tight or bind. This same Latin root gave English several related words: 'strict' (drawn tight), 'stringent' (tight, strict), 'constrict' (to squeeze), 'restrict' (to keep within limits), and 'stress' (pressure or strain). The cooking sense of straining (separating solids from liquids) developed because the original method involved squeezing or pressing the mixture through a cloth. The musical sense (a strain of melody) comes from the idea of a tune being 'drawn out' or 'extended' in sound — an older poetic usage that survives mainly in literary contexts.