congest

verb

con·​gest kən-ˈjest How to pronounce congest (audio)
congested; congesting; congests

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
congestion noun
congestive adjective

Examples of congest in a Sentence

the usual weekend traffic congested the region's highways
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Internet throttling is often actually intentional — most internet service providers (ISPs) and mobile services use internet throttling to free up bandwidth when networks are congested. Kara McGinley, USA Today, 11 June 2025 Erin and Sara Foster are making a smooth debut in beauty messaging—putting aside traditional tropes in ads that are congested with unattainable narratives. Charlie Carballo, Footwear News, 24 Apr. 2025 Numerous neighbors told the town council last week that the project wouldn’t fit in with nearby historic homes, and would generate traffic on streets that are already congested. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025 And the team must be prepared if seaports are congested. Phillip Horton, New York Times, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for congest

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of congest was in 1599

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Congest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/congest. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

congest

verb
con·​gest kən-ˈjest How to pronounce congest (audio)
1
: to cause an excessive accumulation especially of blood or mucus in (as an organ or body part)
2
: to block by filling too full : clog, overcrowd
congested streets
congestion
-ˈjes-chən How to pronounce congest (audio)
-ˈjesh-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on congest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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