sprawl
verb (used without object)
to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner.
was sprawling
-
past progressiveof sprawl.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“This thing was sprawling and big, but it was a hell of a story,” said Kirk, likening the project to the Michael Cimino epic “Heaven’s Gate.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2024
Nicole was sprawling, covering nearly the entire weather-weary state of Florida while also reaching into Georgia and the Carolinas before dawn on Thursday.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 10, 2022
Now, this led to a leak-free competent product, but the final product was sprawling and unwieldy.
From Slate ● Aug. 2, 2017
Crosby scored his fifth goal of the series with 11:59 left in regulation when he fired Evgeni Malkin’s rebound into the large portion of the net that was vacated while Leclaire was sprawling.
From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2010
Squealer, temporarily stunned, was sprawling beside it, and near at hand there lay a lantern, a paint-brush, and an overturned pot of white paint.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
