What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sieve
Example
The recipe calls for sifting the flour with a sieve. [sieve: noun]
Example
She sieved the soup to remove any lumps. [sieved: past tense verb]
strainer
Example
I need to strain the pasta before adding the sauce. [strain: verb]
Example
He used a strainer to remove the pulp from the orange juice. [strainer: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Strainer is more commonly used than sieve in everyday language. Strainer is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sieve is less common and refers to a specific type of filtering tool.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sieve and strainer?
Both sieve and strainer are relatively neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
