English Reference
Adjective

congested

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /kənˈdʒɛstəd/ UK /kəndʒˈɛstɪd/ con·gest·ed

adj.too full or blocked with something, like a road full of cars or a nose full of mucus. It means movement is difficult because there is no space left.

adj.blocked or overcrowded to the point of obstructing movement or flow. Often used in medical contexts regarding mucus or in urban planning regarding traffic.


SIMPLE

The city streets are always congested during the morning rush hour.

CONTEXTUAL

The main highway became heavily congested after a minor accident blocked two lanes of traffic.

COMPLEX

Urban planners are struggling to redesign the city's historic center, which was never intended for the volume of vehicles that now leave it perpetually congested.

Usage

Often used predicatively after 'become' or 'get'; frequently pairs with the preposition 'with'.

Pitfall
The traffic is very congestingThe traffic is very congested

Learners often confuse the participial adjective 'congested' (the state) with the '-ing' form, which is rarely used as an adjective.

As air traffic controllers struggled to route aircraft around the storms, airspace became heavily congested and many planes due to fly were simply forced to wait on the ground.

BBC News· 5 Sept 2026

The elevated highway was a congested eyesore that physically divided Boston’s urban center.

JSTOR Daily· 12 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated