congested
Britishadjective
-
crowded to excess; overfull
-
(of an organ or part) loaded or clogged with blood
-
(of the nose) blocked with mucus
Explanation
If you are having trouble breathing, you keep sneezing, and your head feels like it might explode, you may very well be congested. In other words, fluid may have built up in your sinuses and your lungs. Being congested is a typical but very unpleasant symptom of the common cold. This adjective literally means “clogged,” “overcrowded,” or “overfull.” Congested is also used to describe arteries that are clogged, cities that are overpopulated, and roads that are full of traffic.
Vocabulary lists containing congested
Vocabulary from texts about Colin Powell
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Sick Kids in Love
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Karthik Delivers
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ships that are now stuck would also need about a day or two to berth, load and depart the congested terminals, depending on their cargo.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
NordVPN’s performance was stable, though occasional buffering occurred on congested servers during peak hours.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
But these overland routes are too congested, expensive and insufficient to make up for the paralysis of traditional routes, Schneider said.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
When airspace is suddenly shut or congested, controllers communicate with pilots about where they need to go, how much fuel they have and which airports can accommodate their type of aircraft.
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026
With her dry hand, she picked up a congested ashtray from the window seat and carried it with her over to the night table, on which the phone stood.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.