sprawl
verb (used without object)
to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner.
sprawled
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past participleof sprawl.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof sprawl.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
sprawlverb (used without object)to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meanwhile, at a sports hall in Las Rozas de Madrid just outside the capital, the displaced sprawled on camp beds, held their heads in their hands and comforted pets as they awaited news.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Size was also a theme of the event itself, which sprawled across two exhibition centers, including a monumental new complex designed by architect Zaha Hadid.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Behind the Peace River plant, sprawled out across a massive lawn, and behind a chain-link fence, were the ruins of a processing infrastructure.
From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026
James lay sprawled on his stomach, one arm flung out.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
