freezing

1 of 2

adjective

freez·​ing ˈfrē-ziŋ How to pronounce freezing (audio)
1
: very cold
"Put on your jacket. It's freezing outside!"
Addy rushed home through the darkening streets as if she were pushed along by the wind. She was freezing!Connie Porter
2
: being at or below the temperature at which water freezes
a forecast for freezing temperatures overnight
freezing adverb
The weather was freezing cold. [=very cold]
freezingly adverb
freezingly cold temperatures
Mrs. Reed's hands still lay on her work inactive: her eye of ice continued to dwell freezingly on mine. Charlotte Brontë

freezing

2 of 2

noun

: the temperature at which water freezes
temperatures dipping below freezing

Examples of freezing in a Sentence

Adjective why aren't you wearing a coat, as it's freezing outside?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The winds, snow, and freezing temperatures — to say nothing of the deadly airborne virus the Earthlings’ immune system can’t handle pre-vaccine — are inhospitable at first. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025 The roots of potted plants are not well insulated and need protection against freezing temperatures. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
Western nations' freezing of $300 billion in Russian central bank fiat currency assets exposed the vulnerability of holding reserves in foreign currencies or overseas institutions. Garth Friesen, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 The freezing of cloud droplets releases latent heat and causes ice to splinter. Chris Wright, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for freezing

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of freezing was circa 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Freezing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freezing. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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