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urban sprawl
noun
: the spreading of urban developments (such as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city
Examples of urban sprawl in a Sentence
efforts to stop urban sprawl
Recent Examples on the Web
Penman’s presentation also described how accessory units can generate rental income for homeowners, slow urban sprawl and increase property values.
—Ben Terzi, Baltimore Sun, 22 Feb. 2024
May 18, 2024 Leer en español A collision of climate change, urban sprawl and poor infrastructure has pushed Mexico City to the brink of a profound water crisis.
—Somini Sengupta César Rodríguez, New York Times, 18 May 2024
Cheap gas results in urban sprawl, long commute times and increasingly polluted air.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
As such, the hospitality scene is expanding and improving, with new hotels regularly opening all over the urban sprawl.
—Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for urban sprawl
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'urban sprawl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1934, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near urban sprawl
Cite this Entry
“Urban sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urban%20sprawl. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
urban sprawl
noun
: the spreading of urban structures into areas surrounding a city
More from Merriam-Webster on urban sprawl
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for urban sprawl
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