How to Use "Strain" with Example Sentences

strain (v): to try very hard to do something; to injure yourself by applying too much pressure; to put a mixture through a wire basket to separate the liquid and solid

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Used with adverbs:

"He strained forward to hear her talk."
(forward, hard)

"He seriously strained his calf muscle."
(seriously, severely)

Used with prepositions:

"He was straining to hear better."
(to)

Used with nouns:

"He strained his back."
(back, muscle, neck)

"We are straining our budget every month."
(budget, finances)

"She strained the juice in a colander."
(juice, liquid, mixture)

strain (n): stress; enormous demand or pressure

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Used with adjectives:

"Our financial situation put a real strain on our marriage."
(real, considerable, enormous, great, severe, terrible, tremendous)

"Being a nurse is putting too much mental strain on her."
(mental, emotional, physical)

"Losing my job is having an excessive strain on our finances."
(excessive, unbearable, increasing)

Used with verbs:

"She is starting to feel the strain of working two jobs."
(feel)

"Increasing demand is causing strain on production."
(be + causing, be + creating, be + placing, be + putting)

"Let's try to ease the strain on our bodies."
(ease, reduce)

"I can't stand the emotional strain this is taking on our relationship."
(stand, take, handle)

Used with prepositions:

"Losing his job put a strain on their marriage."
(on)

"He resigned under the strain of the scandal."
(under)