congestion
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
when there are too many vehicles on the road, causing traffic to move very slowly or stop.
the state of being overcrowded with vehicles, resulting in reduced speeds and increased queuing.
Simple“The new highway was built to reduce traffic congestion in the city centre.”
In context“Urban planners are increasingly turning to congestion pricing as a mechanism to discourage private vehicle use during peak commuting hours.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun in the context of urban planning and transport.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a blocked feeling in your nose or chest, usually caused by a cold or illness.
the abnormal accumulation of fluid, such as blood or mucus, in a part of the body.
Simple“He used a nasal spray to help clear his congestion so he could sleep better.”
In context“The patient presented with severe nasal congestion and a persistent cough, suggesting a secondary bacterial infection following the initial virus.”
UsageCommonly occurs in the phrases 'nasal congestion' or 'chest congestion'.
Synonymsblockagestuffiness - 03 C1 Advanced
a situation where any space or system is too full, making it hard for things to flow.
the state of being overfilled or overcrowded, leading to a hindrance of passage or function.
Simple“The congestion at the airport gates caused many passengers to miss their flights.”
In context“The sudden surge in data requests led to significant network congestion, causing the server to time out for several hours.”
Synonyms
“Cars may be radically different compared with the 1970s, but congestion on the local roads only gets worse.”
“These were all bike lanes that increased congestion, were in the wrong place, and caused problems for traffic — removing them was the right move.”
From late Middle English congestioun, from Old French [Term?], from Latin congestĭō (“heap, accumulation”), from congerō (“to bring together, accumulate, heap up”), formed by the root gerō (“to carry”) and the prefix con-.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.