gridlock

1 of 2

noun

grid·​lock ˈgrid-ˌläk 

1

: a traffic jam in which a grid of intersecting streets is so completely congested that no vehicular movement is possible

2

: a situation resembling gridlock (as in congestion or lack of movement)

political gridlock

gridlock

2 of 2

verb

gridlocked; gridlocking; gridlocks

transitive + intransitive

: to cause to be in a state or situation in which movement or progress is stopped completely : to produce gridlock in or of

streets gridlocked by heavy traffic

a government gridlocked by partisan rancor

Neighbors of the proposed site near the intersection … told commissioners they were concerned the school would bring hundreds of additional cars to the area, further gridlocking already bumper-to-bumper traffic.

—Kyra Gurney

Almost immediately, heavy rains had gridlocked the narrow supply trail from Siboney on the coast.

—Michael Blow

also : to experience gridlock

This statement came while Congress gridlocked yet again on a campaign finance measure.

—David Corn

Synonyms

Noun

• deadlock
• halt
• impasse
• logjam
• Mexican standoff
• stalemate
• standoff
• standstill

Examples of gridlock in a Sentence

Noun

An accident caused gridlock at rush hour yesterday.

We were caught in a gridlock.

Disagreements about funding have caused legislative gridlock in Congress.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That might come as a surprise to some travelers, especially when the thought of relaxing can feel laughable after reckoning with airport’s infamous curbside gridlock. —Chris Dong, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024

While buoyed by their success in drawing that line, many South Koreans are also expressing frustration over political gridlock that preceded the martial law attempt. —Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Dec. 2024

Verb

Angling for position, the taxis engage in a series of polite reversals and turns that quickly gives way to gridlock. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2024

Their effort has been criticized as a road to gridlock while, in the aftermath instead, a summer of litigation and investigation of actions has played out. —Alan Wooten | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1981, in the meaning defined above