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
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
AFAR Media, 11 July 2025
His sprawling hands corralled loose balls and wayward shots with ease.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
John Hernandez, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
That contradiction stems, in part, from our dependence on sprawl.
—Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
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Verb
For a breezy meal on site, try the sprawling terrace at the museum’s Verde, with waterfront views and excellent fish tacos and pizzas.
—AFAR Media, 11 July 2025
His sprawling hands corralled loose balls and wayward shots with ease.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Noun
Put processes in place to prevent sprawl from returning.
—John Hernandez, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
That contradiction stems, in part, from our dependence on sprawl.
—Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Cite this Entry
“Sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprawl. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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