progress, improvement, development, enhancement, growth, headway, promotion, rise, upgrade, boost, breakthrough, leap, step forward, forward movement, progression, elevation, betterment, gain, uplift,... [more]
spread - extend - stretch - expand - scatter - diffuse - disperse - straggle - ramble - range - wander - rove - meander - drift - roam - straddle - overspread - fan out - radiate - branch out - proliferate - mushroom - swell - balloon - burgeon - snowball - escalate - multiply - increase - grow - enlarge - amplify - magnify - augment - widen - broaden - dilate - inflate - bloat - distend - swell out - puff up - bulge - billow - surge - overflow - spill over - cascade - flood
Sprawl refers to the spread of urban or suburban development outward from a city or town center, often characterized by low-density residential and commercial building, increased reliance on cars, and extensive use of land. It can lead to environmental and social issues like increased traffic congestion, loss of wildlife habitats, and greater infrastructure costs. Urban planners attempt to manage sprawl with strategies such as smart growth and better public transportation.