Definition

1. Noun:
   • A situation on a road where a large number of vehicles are stopped or moving extremely slowly, often causing long delays.

Usage

• The term "traffic jam" is used to describe a common problem in urban areas where vehicular movement is severely impeded.
• It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • We were stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour on the highway.
  • He was late for work because of a major traffic jam downtown.

Advanced Usage

• "to be caught in a traffic jam": to become stuck in slow or stopped traffic.
  • I was caught in a traffic jam caused by road construction.
• "bumper-to-bumper traffic jam": a very dense traffic jam where vehicles are almost touching.
  • The accident resulted in a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam for miles.

Variants and Related Words

• Gridlock (n): a more severe form of traffic jam where traffic is completely stopped, often at intersections, preventing any movement in any direction.
  • The protest caused total gridlock in the city center.
• Congestion (n): the state of being overcrowded or blocked, especially with traffic.
  • The new policy aims to reduce traffic congestion.

Synonyms

• Snarl-up (n, informal): a confused, tangled state, especially of traffic.
• Tailback (n, chiefly British): a long line of traffic stretching back from an obstruction.

Related Phrases

• Rush hour traffic jam: a traffic jam that occurs during the morning and evening commuting periods.
  • I try to avoid the rush hour traffic jam by leaving earlier.
• Standstill traffic: traffic that has come to a complete stop.
  • The parade brought traffic to a standstill.

Noun

1. a number of vehicles blocking one another until they can scarcely move