sprawl
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner.
The puppy's legs sprawled in all directions.
-
to sit or lie in a relaxed position with the limbs spread out carelessly or ungracefully.
He sprawled across the bed.
-
to spread out, extend, or be distributed in a straggling or irregular manner, as vines, buildings, handwriting, etc.
-
to crawl awkwardly with the aid of all the limbs; scramble.
verb (used with object)
-
to stretch out (the limbs) as in sprawling.
-
to spread out or distribute in a straggling manner.
noun
-
the act or an instance of sprawling; a sprawling posture.
-
a straggling array of something.
verb
-
(intr) to sit or lie in an ungainly manner with one's limbs spread out
-
to fall down or knock down with the limbs spread out in an ungainly way
-
to spread out or cause to spread out in a straggling fashion
his handwriting sprawled all over the paper
noun
-
the act or an instance of sprawling
-
a sprawling posture or arrangement of items
-
-
the urban area formed by the expansion of a town or city into surrounding countryside
the urban sprawl
-
the process by which this has happened
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sprawlsimple
-
sprawlssimple
-
have sprawledperfect
-
has sprawledperfect
-
am sprawlingprogressive
-
are sprawlingprogressive
-
is sprawlingprogressive
-
have been sprawlingperfect progressive
-
has been sprawlingperfect progressive
Past
-
sprawledsimple
-
had sprawledperfect
-
was sprawlingprogressive
-
were sprawlingprogressive
-
had been sprawlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sprawl
before 1000; Middle English spraulen to move awkwardly, Old English spreawlian; cognate with Frisian (N dial.) spraweli
Explanation
When you sprawl, you spread out in an ungainly way, like when you're lying down comfortably on the sofa with your legs and arms flung out around you. As a noun, the most common use of this word nowadays is in the phrase "urban sprawl" (or "suburban sprawl"), which describes municipal development — things like new neighborhoods, shopping malls, and office complexes — that spreads out of control, according to no approved plan, and usually with pretty ugly results.
Vocabulary lists containing sprawl
The Diary of Anne Frank
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Cay
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
As a place that came of age with the automobile, Los Angeles is a sprawl of freeways with a public transport system that would embarrass any medium-sized European city.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
According to Georgette Blau, founder and owner of On Location Tours, L.A.’s sprawl has something to do with that.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Ariane united a sprawl of Edmond de Rothschild banks and offices across the continent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
De Zylva argues this misunderstands the point: "The purpose of the green belt isn't to be green per se, it is to be a buffer to prevent sprawl."
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026
I sprawl on the ground, my face in the dirt.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
But the idea behind it sprawls for miles and keeps Bowen talking for hours on end: Route 66.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
The city of Los Angeles sprawls across roughly 500 square miles, creating logistical hurdles if nothing else for a candidate seeking citywide office from a remote location, noted Democratic political consultant Mike Trujillo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026
The megastore sprawls across 150,000 square feet—triple the size of a typical store.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
The modern mansion, which sprawls across 4,879 square feet, was built in 1935 and sits on a 0.58-acre plot.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 2, 2026
The city of Madison sprawls between two lakes, Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, and dribbling out of these are other piddly lakes.
From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
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
A 12-year-old Labrador retriever named Sugar was sprawled on a hardwood floor of a Brooklyn apartment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 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
They sprawled around the rim of the backyard swimming pool and across the adjacent lawn, their animal-print blankets and beach towels crowded with paper scraps and glue sticks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2025
The entire Vanderbeeker family was sprawled around the living room when Papa’s cell phone rang.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
Anya says she first met Epstein at his sprawling 18-room Paris apartment, decorated with pictures of himself posing with people such as Bill Clinton and other world leaders.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
A onetime California oil boomtown about 60 miles southwest of Fresno, Avenal has spent decades off the beaten track, known more for its pistachios and sprawling state prison than for political upheaval.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
But experts warn the sprawling salt flats of Montenegro's Ulcinj salina, a vital stop-off for migrating flamingos, pelicans and other species, is fading fast.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
The sprawling compound comes with a detached three-bedroom guesthouse, an office with an apartment above the garage, and expansive terraces.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
“Sorry, Humphrey. I’m trying to hold still,” A.J. told me as someone bumped his elbow and sent me sprawling on the floor of my cage.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
