congestion
Americannoun
-
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
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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 consequences of the congestion could be felt far beyond Texas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Cardiff council said it would prefer to introduce a parking space charge over a congestion charge, but the scheme is in its early stages.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
It would offer travelers and employees an alternative to getting to and from the airport by vehicle and finally establish a direct airport connection to Metro trains that would ease congestion at the airport horseshoe.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
The new bridge is sorely needed to relieve congestion at the nearby Ambassador Bridge, which handles some $390 million in trade and 8,000 trucks a day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
During that first summer and fall of sandy congestion and wind-blown boredom, the bitterness accumulated, the rage festered in hundreds of tarpapered cubicles like ours.
From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston
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
U.S. retailers have spent more on shipping and labor this year, as pandemic-driven port congestions and a shortage of drivers increase costs.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 10, 2021
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
It is only repeated congestions that seriously affect the membrane; and he has been exceptionally lucky—or exceptionally strong, perhaps.
From Prince Fortunatus by Black, William
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.
