Skip to main content
to bottleneck

to bottleneck

2 6.0
To become narrow and slow progress
  • verb
  • /ˈbɑːtəlˌnɛk/
translation icon : entorpecer
  • I mean what is the point of rocking a brand new to us GPU if it's going to get bottlenecked by our weak CPU?
  • Traffic bottlenecked

But this is like double bottlenecked.

Examples

  • They'll bottleneck, we can thin them out.

  • Again, inside the prison hallways, they were stuck because there was no room to maneuver and they were bottlenecked.

    Blog text (20)
  • So at least we're not bottlenecking anywhere, right?

  • As always, everyone becomes bottlenecked just at the point of entering the plane.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Information from suppliers also became bottlenecked.

    Academic text (2002)
  • More people arrive, bottlenecking the doorway.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • More and more civilians from the vehicles bottlenecked on the jammed highway were rushing forward to lend a helping hand.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Due to unanticipated radar data, we've gotten a bit bottlenecked.

  • If you fully load the CPU with IBT, Furmark will be bottlenecked and the GPU load will be much less than 100%—on my system it was around 75%.

    Blog text (11)
  • As the meeting progressed, discussions bottlenecked at the topic of budget allocation, causing delays.

Synonyms

to block
vsto bottleneck
3.0

To stop movement, access, or progress

refers more to a restrictive point that slows overall progress
to slow
vsto bottleneck
957 1.0

Make something move or happen at a lower speed

refers specifically to a restricting point that slows progress rather than general slowness
to hold back
vsto bottleneck
187 3.2

Stop someone or something from moving forward

focuses on a specific choke point that causes slowdown rather than general prevention
to check
vsto bottleneck
104 3.7

Stop something from growing or spreading

is about a physical or process restriction that causes a slowdown
to hinder
vsto bottleneck
75 3.6

To make it difficult for people or things to do something

is more specific to a narrowing point that slows overall progress
to hamper
vsto bottleneck
47 4.2

To make it harder for someone or something to move forward

names a single restrictive point that narrows or slows overall flow
to impede
vsto bottleneck
35 6.5

To slow the progress or movement of people and things

is narrower, naming a specific restriction point that causes slowdown
to retard
vsto bottleneck
26 8.4

To make something happen more slowly

names a physical or process restriction that causes slowdown rather than general delay
to clog
vsto bottleneck
21 3.2

To block a pipe or passage so flow stops

describes a narrowing or restriction that causes slow progress rather than total stop
to bogged down
vsto bottleneck
  • Informal
21 5.8

To become stuck and unable to make progress because of problems

is about a narrow blockage point that slows flow rather than broad stagnation
to stymy
vsto bottleneck
20 8.7

To stop someone from making progress toward a goal

refers more to a restricting spot that causes a slowdown instead of total block
to clog up
vsto bottleneck
9 3.7

To block a drain or road so things cannot move through it

focuses on a narrow point causing delay rather than only a full blockage
to slow up
vsto bottleneck
8 2.7

Move or make something move less quickly

is about a narrow limiting point that restricts flow rather than gradual slowing
to throttle
vsto bottleneck
5 7.5

To reduce or control how much of something is allowed

is about an unintentional narrow point that slows progress rather than deliberate control
to stymie
vsto bottleneck
5 8.0

To stop or slow progress

is used for a specific narrowing that slows movement rather than full prevention
to bog down
vsto bottleneck
5 5.8

To get stuck and stop making progress

is a single narrow restriction causing delay rather than general entanglement

Antonyms

to accelerate
  • Specialized
331 3.7

To move faster or make something happen faster

3 3.1

Remove something that stops a pipe, machine, or blood vessel from working

Phrasal Verbs

Make a slow part of a process faster to stop delays

How Blocked

stop
310 1.0
to obstruct
119 5.1
to bottleneck
2 6.0
to impede
35 6.5
to hinder
75 3.6
to slow
957 1.0

Surface Forms

bottleneck infinitive
bottlenecked past participle
bottlenecking present participle
bottlenecks third person singular

Morphology

bottleneck = bottleneck (semi-transparent) = bottle + neck

The verb is a conversion from the noun 'bottleneck', and the restriction sense is a metaphorical extension from the idea of a narrow neck.

Etymology

Bottleneck as a verb means to become narrow or to slow progress, just like the neck of a bottle makes liquid flow slowly through a small opening.