sprawl
verb (used without object)
to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner.
had sprawled
-
past perfectof sprawl.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Citi had sprawled under Sandy Weill who led the bank in an acquisition spree between 1998 and 2003.
From Reuters ● Sep. 13, 2023
“The original mission had sprawled with little or no oversight,” she said in a phone interview this week.
From New York Times ● Jul. 1, 2016
Months later, upon seeing how quickly Dubai had sprawled outwards, he returned to court and grovelled.
From The Guardian ● May 16, 2016
Early Tuesday morning police officers drawn from 18 area law enforcement agencies dismantled an encampment that had sprawled out across the square and a second, smaller camp.
From Time ● Oct. 27, 2011
It is a truly astounding sight when every tree in a forest becomes individual; where formerly had sprawled a seamless cloak of green there now stood a million bright colors.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
