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🏛️ No progress 🚗 Severe traffic jam 🚗 To block completely
to gridlock

to gridlock

7 5.1
To cause a complete stop so vehicles cannot move or talks cannot progress
  • verb
  • /ˈɡrɪdˌlɑk/
translation icon : paralizar
  • This legislative branch of the federal government is essentially gridlocked and dysfunctional on basic issues of policy.
  • gridlocked traffic
  • gridlocked intersection
  • gridlocked city

Examples

  • As can be expected, such an area is constantly gridlocked, and there is an endless tug of war between the agencies of the state and the participants in the city's unofficial economy.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Transportation officials say without the toll lanes, that section of the Beltway would be gridlocked for 12 hours a day within 20 years.

    Blog text (20)

  • "Congress is gridlocked, and will remain so.

    Blog text (22)

  • "The people themselves are internally gridlocked," Frank said.

    Blog text (8)

  • Washington is gridlocked.

    Blog text (18)

  • America is drowning in debt, gridlocked in Washington with old ideas and a stale standoff.

    Blog text (6)

  • On my way to work, I found the roads completely gridlocked due to an accident.

  • The legislative session ended with the politicians gridlocked on key issues, unable to reach an agreement.

  • Every morning, the traffic is often gridlocked near the downtown area during rush hour.

Synonyms

to block
vsto gridlock
∞ 3.0

To stop movement, access, or progress

is used for a full stoppage in many contexts including traffic or processes
to freeze
vsto gridlock
  • Formal
154 5.3

Officially stop an activity, for example the use of money or assets

refers to an imposed suspension, not necessarily chaotic physical blockage
to block off
vsto gridlock
23 3.8

Close a road, path or entrance so people cannot go through

causes a standstill by preventing passage rather than by congestion
to clog
vsto gridlock
21 3.2

To block a pipe or passage so flow stops

results in a full stop especially causing severe congestion or deadlock
to jam
vsto gridlock
13 4.4

Get stuck and stop moving or working

refers to a wider stoppage that includes heavy congestion or procedural deadlock
to clog up
vsto gridlock
9 3.7

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

creates a complete stop particularly in traffic or procedural processes
to jam up
vsto gridlock
  • Informal
8 4.7

Become blocked so things cannot move or work

brings movement to a total standstill rather than heavy hindrance
to gum up
vsto gridlock
  • Informal
6 7.2

To make moving parts stuck with dirt or glue so they stop working

leads to an overall standstill by making movement or function fail

Antonyms

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

to unblock
3 3.1

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

How Blocked

to gridlock
7 5.1
to block
∞ 3.0
to impede
35 6.5
to delay
562 1.4
to slow
957 1.0
to flow
259 1.6

Surface Forms

gridlock infinitive
gridlocked past
gridlocked past participle
gridlocking present participle
gridlocks third person singular

Morphology

gridlock = gridlock (semi-transparent) = grid + lock

The verb is a direct conversion from the noun 'gridlock', so its meaning is straightforwardly derived from the base form.

Etymology

Gridlock as a verb keeps the same image: grid plus lock, so to gridlock a road or a meeting is to 'lock' it so nothing can move.