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.
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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.
That drama led to a congested 10-athlete final - but, despite Briton Jemma Reekie's best efforts, there only ever appeared three contenders for gold.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Archer and Joby say their air taxis will bring the dream of flying cars to life with fast, lightweight aircraft that shuttle passengers over congested cities like an Uber in the sky.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Embraer executives also gave an update on Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary developing electric "air taxis" designed to shuttle passengers above congested city streets.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
“In areas where cellular coverage is weak or towers are congested, Starlink still has a major advantage, but this is a constantly evolving side of the business.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
It wasn’t far from the truth; crying had left: her congested.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
