Definition
To sit or lie with your arms and legs spread out loosely and comfortably, or to spread out over a large area in an unplanned way.
Example
She sprawled across the sofa after a long day.
Show translation
She spread herself out on the sofa after a long day.
Etymology
From early Modern English, likely from Old English *spreawlian* ("to move convulsively, writhe"), related to Low German *sprallen* ("to sprawl, splash"). The word shifted over time from suggesting uncontrolled movement to simply describing a relaxed, spread-out posture — and later extended metaphorically to describe cities expanding outward without order ("urban sprawl").
Cultural note
"Urban sprawl" is a key term in English-speaking urban planning debates, especially in the US, Canada, and Australia, where cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Houston are often cited as prime examples of car-dependent, low-density expansion. Hearing "sprawl" in a news or policy context almost always signals this metaphorical sense rather than a person lying on a couch.