verb
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sprawl
sprawl
Sprawl (verb) means to sit or lie with the arms and legs spread out carelessly. Example: “He sprawled across the sofa after the long shift.”
verb
1
To sit or lie with the arms and legs spread out carelessly.
"He sprawled across the sofa after the long shift."
"The cat sprawled out in a patch of sun."
noun
1
Unplanned, spread-out growth of buildings, especially on the outskirts of a city.
"The report warned about urban sprawl eating into farmland."
How to use sprawl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither lying loosely spread out, or an untidy, spread-out expansion (usually of a city).
Common pairings
urban sprawl
sprawl across the bed
suburban sprawl
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Word forms
- Plural
- sprawls
- Third person singular
- sprawls
- Past tense
- sprawled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ across the sofa after the long shift.
Etymology
From Old English spreawlian ("to move convulsively"), related to "sprout".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for sprawl
See all rhymes for sprawl →Frequently asked questions
What does “sprawl” mean?
The word “sprawl” means to sit or lie with the arms and legs spread out carelessly. In plain terms, either lying loosely spread out, or an untidy, spread-out expansion (usually of a city).
How do you pronounce “sprawl”?
“Sprawl” is pronounced sprawl (/spɹɔːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sprawl” in a sentence?
Here is “sprawl” used in a sentence: “He sprawled across the sofa after the long shift.”
What part of speech is “sprawl”?
Depending on how it is used, “sprawl” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “sprawl” come from?
The word “sprawl” comes from Old English. From Old English spreawlian ("to move convulsively"), related to "sprout".
How many meanings does “sprawl” have?
“Sprawl” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sit or lie with the arms and legs spread out carelessly.
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