1. to exert oneself or a part of the body to the greatest possible extent.

strained adjective (INJURED) injured by too much use or effort: a strained knee (Definition of strained from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

If someone's appearance, voice, or behaviour is strained, they seem worried and nervous. She looked a little pale and strained. Gil sensed something wrong from her father's strained voice. His laughter …

lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance adjective lacking spontaneity; not natural “a strained smile” synonyms: constrained, forced affected, unnatural speaking or behaving in an …

Aug 27, 2025 · Adjective strained (comparative more strained, superlative most strained) Forced through a strainer.

Strained definition: Having been passed through a strainer.

Definition of strained adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

to use one's efforts or strength as much as possible: [~ + object] She strained her ears and tried to hear what they were saying. [~ + to + verb] He stood by the door, straining to hear what they were saying …

The healing time for a strained muscle typically ranges from a few days to several weeks depending on severity and care.