# congested

/kənˈdʒɛstəd/ (US) · /kəndʒˈɛstɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/congested
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

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.

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

## Examples

- The city streets are always congested during the morning rush hour.
- The main highway became heavily congested after a minor accident blocked two lanes of traffic.
- 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The traffic is very congesting" but "The traffic is very congested" — Learners often confuse the participial adjective 'congested' (the state) with the '-ing' form, which is rarely used as an adjective.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.