congested; congesting; congests
1
: to concentrate in a small or narrow space
2
: to cause an excessive accumulation especially of blood or mucus in (such as an organ or part)
3
: clog
traffic congested the highways
: to become congested
Synonyms
Examples of congest in a Sentence
the usual weekend traffic congested the region's highways
Recent Examples on the Web
May mean that you are congested Yellow: Signals an infection
How Do Boogers Form
Boogers form when air passes through your nostrils, drying up nasal mucus.
—
Maggie O'Neill, Health, 7 Apr. 2024
Major roads and highways throughout central Texas are expected to be congested in the hours surrounding the eclipse, and lines at rental car desks could back up.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 6 Apr. 2024
Traffic to and from the convention is expected to be congested, and the committee expects to use roughly 400 extra buses and shuttles to ferry delegates and other visitors around the area.
—Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
According to State Police, downed power lines across the interstate shut down lanes both ways, about one mile south of I-69 on the northeast side of the city, about 1:50 p.m.
Just before 2:30, State Police announced all lanes opened up, but traffic is congested in both directions.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024
Specific over-the-counter painkillers can treat fever and headache, while certain decongestants can help if you’re congested.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2023
But as more and more travelers have gained access to these coveted spaces, lounges have increasingly started feeling cramped and congested.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Feb. 2024
Some areas anticipated to be congested before, during, and after the eclipse include Highway 24, Interstate Highway 69, U.S. Highway 41, the Pennyrile Parkway and the U.S. Highway 68/Kentucky Highway 80.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Feb. 2024
He was clearly congested, but the surgical site looked well healed.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 10 Jan. 2024
Maggie O'Neill, Health, 7 Apr. 2024
Major roads and highways throughout central Texas are expected to be congested in the hours surrounding the eclipse, and lines at rental car desks could back up.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 6 Apr. 2024
Traffic to and from the convention is expected to be congested, and the committee expects to use roughly 400 extra buses and shuttles to ferry delegates and other visitors around the area.
—Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
According to State Police, downed power lines across the interstate shut down lanes both ways, about one mile south of I-69 on the northeast side of the city, about 1:50 p.m.
Just before 2:30, State Police announced all lanes opened up, but traffic is congested in both directions.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024
Specific over-the-counter painkillers can treat fever and headache, while certain decongestants can help if you’re congested.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2023
But as more and more travelers have gained access to these coveted spaces, lounges have increasingly started feeling cramped and congested.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Feb. 2024
Some areas anticipated to be congested before, during, and after the eclipse include Highway 24, Interstate Highway 69, U.S. Highway 41, the Pennyrile Parkway and the U.S. Highway 68/Kentucky Highway 80.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Feb. 2024
He was clearly congested, but the surgical site looked well healed.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 10 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'congest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin congestus, past participle of congerere to bring together, from com- + gerere to bear
First Known Use
1599, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near congest
Cite this Entry
“Congest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/congest. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
congest
verb
con·gest
kən-ˈjest 
1
: to cause an excessive accumulation especially of blood or mucus in (as an organ or body part)
More from Merriam-Webster on congest
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share