sprawl
verb (used without object)
to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner.
is sprawling
-
present progressiveof sprawl (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
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.
First, Congress must address a long‑recognized problem with the federal criminal code: It is sprawling and vague, with statutes that often lack clear requirements regarding criminal intent.
From Slate ● May 1, 2026
Legs are aching, and the crowd is sprawling back around a quarter-mile from the stage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2025
Sacramento is sprawling yet confined, natural yet metropolitan.
From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2025
While the Chabad-Lubavitcher movement is sprawling and its mission is to welcome Jews at all levels of religious practice, it also has key divisions within the larger movement.
From BBC ● Jan. 10, 2024
She blinks, and suddenly the bald knight is sprawling through the dust.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
