Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

sprawled

[sprawl]

Example Sentences Origin

verb (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.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Sprawled is always a great word to know.

So is bezoar. Does it mean:

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

noun

the act or an instance of sprawling; a sprawling posture.

a straggling array of something.

Origin:
before 1000; Middle English spraulen to move awkwardly, Old English spreawlian; cognate with Frisian (N dial.) spraweli

Related forms

sprawl·er, noun

sprawl·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms
3. straggle, branch.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To sprawled

Example Sentences

Winslet sprawled on the floor in jeans surrounded by pages and pages of notes.

Sailors lay sprawled across the floor, several of them unconscious, others simply dazed.

His seven-year body of work is sprawled yet distinctive, particularly given the many works coated in his personal hue of blue.

EXPAND

Winslet sprawled on the floor in jeans surrounded by pages and pages of notes.

Sailors lay sprawled across the floor, several of them unconscious, others simply dazed.

His seven-year body of work is sprawled yet distinctive, particularly given the many works coated in his personal hue of blue.

Bush, and was sprawled awkwardly on an ornate sofa as though it cramped him.

Touch the aging spines, peer at the insistent, mute words sprawled across every page.

Still more were found sprawled with other family members in front of their homes.

She was sprawled on the sand in her pink bathing suit, fortunately awake and alert.

Ah yes, lying sprawled on the ground looking hopeless and miserable is the perfect example of achieving moksha.

But as the city grew, parts of it sprawled directly above old tunnels.

The corpses were sprawled in a semicircle, on chairs and beds that had been dragged into the backyard.

Dozens of people sprawled before them on soft, plump bean bags.

As she sprawled across the laps of other spectators, medics rushed in to attend to her.

Bodies were sprawled in every conceivable position, arms and legs flung awkwardly.

Increasingly homes and industry have sprawled on to areas that have been prone to flooding.

Its frontiers have sprawled into the lush jungle and marsh of the mainland.

We rounded a large berg and came upon a leopard seal on the backside, sprawled out on the ice asleep.

Fashionable villas and yacht clubs soon dotted the coast, and mansions sprawled on inland lawns.

And others were simply sprawled out on their backs, worn out-one guy was even heavily snoring.

He lurched left, lurched right and ended up sprawled face first on the sun-toasted, dust-coated hood of a compact car.

I've never been right unless sprawled out in the universe.

She was sprawled on the ground, hit once in the chest.

Sailors lay sprawled across the deck, several of them unconscious, others simply dazed.

He said he arrived moments later to find a young man sprawled on the sidewalk in a pool of blood.

On cue, he sprawled on the canvas, clutching his eye.

Prince sprawled at the kitchen entrance with a pistol at her side.

COLLAPSE

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

sprawl

O.E. spreawlian "move convulsively," with cognates in the Scand. languages and N.Fris. spraweli, probably ult. from PIE base *sper- "to strew" (see sprout). Meaning "to spread or stretch in a careless manner" is attested from 1540s; of things, from 1745. The noun is first

EXPAND

attested 1719; meaning "straggling expansion of built-up districts into surrounding countryside" is from 1955.

COLLAPSE

Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com

Searching for sprawled?
How many words do you actually know?

FIND OUT

Related Words

bicycle kick

spraddle-legged

Matching Quote

"Bonds to the whims of murder,
Sprawled in the bowels of the earth,
The torn fields of France."

-Isaac Rosenberg

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help