congestion
Americannoun
-
congestions
plural
-
overcrowding; clogging.
severe traffic congestion.
-
an excessive or abnormal accumulation of blood or other fluid in a body part or blood vessel.
pulmonary congestion.
noun
-
the state of being overcrowded, esp with with traffic or people
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the state of being overloaded or clogged with blood
-
the state of being blocked with mucus
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of congestion
From the Latin word congestiō, dating back to 1585–95. See congest, -ion
Explanation
When a driver complains about congestion, she's talking about the cars that are backed up on the highway. When your sneezing friend complains about congestion, he's talking about his stuffed-up nose. Use the noun congestion to talk about over-crowding; this comes up most often when people talk about traffic. If there's unexpected congestion on your route to work, you'll be late. You might also use the word to describe a crush of people: "The congestion in the subway was terrible — we were packed like sardines in there." The medical kind of congestion describes a build up of fluid, especially the kind you feel in your sinuses when you have a bad cold.
Vocabulary lists containing congestion
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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.
See Examples For:
The government introduced congestion pricing and vehicle taxes, and built a subway system.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
The Danish shipping group raised its full-year guidance for the second time in less than three months, and congestion at some Chinese ports like Shanghai and Ningbo seems to be driving this, the analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Preliminary testing showed significant fluid around the cub’s heart and some congestion of the lungs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
"Urban transport governance is still centred on moving vehicles. Reducing congestion and maximising road space for motor traffic take precedence over pedestrians," he says.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
The other end he slings through a bent strut wedged into the congestion of timber, stone, and plaster that has become their ceiling.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
While traffic volumes have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, the group said, congestions is expected to continue to build in the region, even with transit investments, because of project growth of 1.3 million people by 2045.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 10, 2023
The Washington Department of Transportation advised drivers to expect intermittent heavy congestions in the Seattle area Thursday evening and Friday due to temporary closures of the freeway system due to his visit.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 21, 2022
China's export and import both rose last month despite delta demand concerns and severe port congestions.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 7, 2021
Jakarta's congestions are one of the biggest brakes on economic growth.
From Reuters ● Jun. 11, 2015
Many people produce a species of irritable indigestion, by the use of stimulants, for this the Anglo-Turkish bath is an almost certain cure, as it relieves internal congestions, steadies the nerves and produces refreshing sleep.
From Turkish and Other Baths A Guide to Good Health and Longevity by Gordon Stables
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.
