congest

verb

con·​gest kən-ˈjest 

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

Holiday traffic congested the highways.

intransitive verb

: to become congested

congestion

kən-ˈjes-chən 

-ˈjesh-

noun

congestive

kən-ˈje-stiv 

adjective

Synonyms of congest

• obstruct
• block

Examples of congest in a Sentence

the usual weekend traffic congested the region's highways

Recent Examples on the Web

The tissue layers surrounding the brain (meninges) were congested in the area of the stingray spine. — Mark Price june 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026

Your pores might be congested with gunk or product residue, so double-cleansing can make all the difference. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 23 June 2026

The National League wild-card race is congested. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 23 June 2026

And like Inter Miami matches, the area around Freedom park and MIA will likely be congested from mid-afternoon through kickoff and then again late at night at the end of the match. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

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

Rhymes for congest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

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)

2

: to block by filling too full : clog, overcrowd

congested streets

congestion

-ˈjes-chən 

-ˈjesh-

noun