congest

verb con·gest \ kən-ˈjest \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

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 (such as an organ or part)

3 : clog

traffic congested the highways

intransitive verb

: to become congested

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congestion

play \kən-ˈjes-chən, -ˈjesh-\ noun

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congestive

play \kən-ˈje-stiv\ adjective

See congest defined for kids

Examples of congest in a Sentence

the usual weekend traffic congested the region's highways

Recent Examples of congest from the Web

Expect the highways to be especially congested, considering the 2.68 million Southern Californians who will be traveling by car, also a more than 5 percent increase over last year’s numbers.

— lori weisberg, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Memorial Day travel expected to be record-breaking," 15 May 2018
When constricted and congested Highway 16 southeast from Sacramento reaches Amador County wine enthusiasts can relax a bit, choose any of several feeder roads and start to prospect leisurely for wines.

— mike dunne, sacbee, "Let's take drive: Three wineries worth a visit in Amador County | The Sacramento Bee," 2 May 2018
Traffic in the area was congested as drivers tried to find alternate routes.

— karen kucher, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ramps closed to eastbound I-8 from Ocean Beach over jump threat," 1 May 2018
And in more than a dozen South American cities, such systems have become a critical transit link between commercial centers and mountainous regions once connected only by congested, winding roads.

— bill shaikin, latimes.com, "A gondola from Union Station to Dodger Stadium? It could happen by 2022, Mayor Garcetti says," 26 Apr. 2018
Proponents of voting centers in Marion County note that the CCB can be a long way to travel, is congested and lacks parking.

— john tuohy, Indianapolis Star, "Plenty of places to vote early in Hamilton County. In Marion, not so much.," 13 Apr. 2018
The 6-foot-5 Bryant reminisced about the old dugouts, which were frequently congested and needed padding on the edge of the ceiling so tall players like him wouldn’t bump their heads.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Cubs brace for frigid conditions at Wrigley Field," 8 Apr. 2018
The I-80 Smart Corridor project is an effort to increase the capacity of one of the nation’s most-congested and hemmed-in stretches of freeway using technology — including 133 bright electronic signs — instead of pavement.

— michael cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle, "Dark Caltrans signs on I-80 really do work," 12 Feb. 2018
The draw sees Crystal Palace rise to 14th in the Premier League, but the bottom half of the table is now so congested that Hodgson's side are just three points away from the dreaded relegation zone.

— SI.com, "Crystal Palace Boss Hodgson Admits Frustration With Inconsistent Performance After Newcastle Draw," 5 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'congest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.