urban sprawl
noun
: the spreading of urban developments (such as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city
Examples of urban sprawl in a Sentence
efforts to stop urban sprawl
Recent Examples on the Web
If finding a soulmate in the urban sprawl of Los Angeles is a long and arduous journey, one studded with minefields erupting in confusion, anxiety and repeated dismay, then let the body lead the way.
—
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
At the heart of the debate lies a struggle for rural Hancock County where residents have slowly watched urban sprawl and industrial campuses creep farther east into their quiet communities.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
The population was less than 2,400, and where urban sprawl covers much of the land today, once were great orchards of apples and peaches.
—Ray Hanley, Arkansas Online, 16 June 2025
The roots of the problem–and solutions Continued urban sprawl and population growth only increases the demand for freshwater.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
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Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
At the heart of the debate lies a struggle for rural Hancock County where residents have slowly watched urban sprawl and industrial campuses creep farther east into their quiet communities.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
The population was less than 2,400, and where urban sprawl covers much of the land today, once were great orchards of apples and peaches.
—Ray Hanley, Arkansas Online, 16 June 2025
The roots of the problem–and solutions Continued urban sprawl and population growth only increases the demand for freshwater.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for urban sprawl
Cite this Entry
“Urban sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urban%20sprawl. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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