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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
Growing cities are required by Washington's Growth Management Act, passed in the early 1990s, to anticipate rising populations, lay out infrastructure investments, and address challenges like urban sprawl.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 21 Nov. 2024
The National Capital Region (NCR), a dense urban sprawl of 16 cities that is home to more than 13 million people, is at risk of flooding from heavy to intense rains starting Sunday at noon, data from the state weather agency showed.
—Reuters, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
Despite its close proximity to the urban sprawl, the natural world permeates their forested two-acre lot, where rosemary and lavender grow, wild beehives can be found in old tree branches, and the occasional brown bear wanders past.
—John Wogan, Architectural Digest, 25 Oct. 2024
As Austin’s outer bounds have grown, the urban sprawl has encroached on coyote habitat.
—Cross Harris, Austin American-Statesman, 9 July 2024
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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 22 Dec. 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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