congest

con·gest

verb \kən-ˈjest\

Definition of CONGEST

transitive verb

1

: to concentrate in a small or narrow space

2

: to cause an excessive accumulation especially of blood or mucus in (as an organ or part)

3

: clog <traffic congested the highways>

intransitive verb

: to become congested

— con·ges·tion \-ˈjes-chən, -ˈjesh-\ noun

— con·ges·tive \-ˈjes-tiv\ adjective

Examples of CONGEST

1. <the usual weekend traffic congested the region's highways>

Origin of CONGEST

Latin congestus, past participle of congerere to bring together, from com- + gerere to bear

First Known Use: 1599

Related to CONGEST

Synonyms

block, choke, clot, clog, dam, gum (up), jam, obstruct, occlude, plug (up), stop (up), stuff

Antonyms

clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

Related Words

bung, cork, spile, stopper, stopple; fill, gridlock, pack; fur, silt; flood, glut, inundate, overwhelm, swamp

Near Antonyms

excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out); empty, lighten

Rhymes with CONGEST

abreast, abscessed, appressed, armrest, arrest, at best, at rest, attest, backrest, beau geste, bed rest, behest, bequest, blood test, conquest, contest, crow's nest, depressed, detest, devest, digest, distressed, divest, egest, eighth rest, field-test, flight-test, footrest, gabfest, half rest, hard-pressed, headrest, high-test, hillcrest, hope chest, houseguest, imprest, incest, infest, ingest, inquest, interest, invest, Key West, lovefest, love nest, Mae West, mare's nest, Midwest, molest, northwest, patch test, posttest, pretest, professed, protest, redbreast, repressed, request, revest, road test, scratch test, screen test, sea chest, skin test, slop chest, slugfest, southwest, spot test, steam chest, stress test, suggest, Trieste, t-test, unblessed, undressed, unrest, unstressed, war chest, whole rest, Wild West