congest
UK: kənˈdʒest | US: kənˈdʒest
vt. to overcrowd or block (a space, passage, or vessel)
vi. to become overcrowded or blocked
n. (rare) a state of excessive crowding or blockage
The word "congest" originates from Latin congestus, the past participle of congerere ("to bring together, heap up"). The morpheme con- (from Latin cum) means "together," while -gest derives from gerere ("to carry"). Historically, the term described the literal piling up of objects, later evolving to metaphorically describe overcrowding (e.g., traffic congestion) or biological blockages (e.g., congested sinuses). The logic reflects physical accumulation → abstract crowding.
Heavy traffic began to congest the highway during rush hour.
Mucus can congest the nasal passages during a cold.
The city’s narrow streets easily congest with pedestrians.
Poor drainage caused the river to congest with debris.
Overbooking flights may congest airport terminals.