sprawled; sprawling; sprawls
1
: to lie or sit with arms and legs spread out
2
: to spread or develop irregularly or without restraint
bushes sprawling along the road
sprawling suburbs
a sprawling narrative
3
a
: to creep or clamber awkwardly
b
archaic
: to lie thrashing or tossing about
: to cause to spread out carelessly or awkwardly
sprawled out her books on the table
1
: an irregularly spread or scattered group or mass
a sprawl of stores and restaurants
2
3
: the act, posture, or condition of sprawling
Examples of sprawl in a Sentence
Verb
The kids sprawled on the floor to watch TV.
She tripped and went sprawling into the table.
The city sprawls along the coastline.
The bushes were sprawling along the road.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christine Mai-Duc,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
For families Families are welcome here (especially ones that love to golf) and will find plenty to keep busy with the massive pool and sprawling grounds.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 June 2026
Priyanka Mattoo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 July 2026
Scaling from single applications to many across hybrid multicloud environments introduces model sprawl, data management issues, and a specialized skills deficit.
—
Sam Rastogi,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
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Verb
What the state does next could have profound implications for its healthcare system and sprawling economy.
—
Christine Mai-Duc,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
For families Families are welcome here (especially ones that love to golf) and will find plenty to keep busy with the massive pool and sprawling grounds.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 June 2026
Noun
Below me lie a sprawl of rust and ochre hillocks, undulating all the way to the horizon.
—
Priyanka Mattoo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 July 2026
Scaling from single applications to many across hybrid multicloud environments introduces model sprawl, data management issues, and a specialized skills deficit.
—
Sam Rastogi,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Cite this Entry
“Sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprawl. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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