congest

[ kuhn-jest ]

verb (used with object)

1. to fill to excess; overcrowd or overburden; clog:

   The subway entrance was so congested that no one could move.

2. Pathology. to cause an unnatural accumulation of blood or other fluid in (a body part or blood vessel):

   The cold congested her sinuses.

3. Obsolete. to heap together.

verb (used without object)

1. to become congested:

   His throat congested with phlegm.

congest

/ kənˈdʒɛst /

verb

1. to crowd or become crowded to excess; overfill
2. to overload or clog (an organ or part) with blood or (of an organ or part) to become overloaded or clogged with blood
3. tr; usually passive to block (the nose) with mucus

Derived Forms

• conˈgestive, adjective
• conˈgestible, adjective

Other Words From

• con·gesti·ble adjective
• con·gestive adjective
• noncon·gestive adjective
• precon·gested adjective
• precon·gestive adjective
• super·con·gested adjective
• uncon·gested adjective
• uncon·gestive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of congest¹

1530–40; < Latin congestus (past participle of congerere; congeries ), equivalent to con- con- + ges- (variant stem of gerere ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of congest¹

C16: from Latin congestus pressed together, from congerere to assemble; see congeries

Example Sentences

The authors describe how, in the late 19th century, the streets of fast-industrializing cities were congested with horses, each pulling a cart or a coach, one after the other, in some places three abreast.

From Nautilus

When she was on the sidewalk, some of the already narrow walkways were congested with large signs.

From Washington Post

However, utilization of these resources is kind of skewed towards very few major roads that end up being congested in the peak hours.

From MIT Technology Review

The volume you can achieve per pound spent can be attractive, especially given it’s not as congested with other advertisers as other apps.

From Digiday

As a result, many retailers and grocers have been attempting to stockpile supplies in advance of January 1 and the road approaches to the Channel crossings have already been congested for weeks due to the additional truck traffic.

From Fortune

The contents of a hundred Primers rose higgledy-piggledy, to congest his mind and memory.

From Project Gutenberg

The keen night air had seemed for the moment fairly to congest her lungs and render her speechless and breathless.

From Project Gutenberg

Alcohol will sometimes congest the brain of an adult under the most trying and discouraging circumstances.

From Project Gutenberg

It is an easy thing to have printed congealed for that word, and congest occurs in A Lover's Complaint.

From Project Gutenberg

His case, with such phrases as "Supportlessly congest" well to the fore, was good.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• choke
• overburden
• overcrowd