thawed; thawing; thaws
1
a
: to go from a frozen to a liquid state : melt
b
: to become free of the effect (such as stiffness, numbness, or hardness) of cold as a result of exposure to warmth
2
: to be warm enough to melt ice and snow
—used with it in reference to the weather
3
: to abandon aloofness, reserve, or hostility : unbend
4
: to become mobile, active, or susceptible to change
: to cause to thaw
1
: the action, fact, or process of thawing
2
: a period of weather warm enough to thaw ice
the January thaw
3
: the action or process of becoming less aloof, less hostile, or more genial
a thaw in international relations
Synonyms
Examples of thaw in a Sentence
Verb
Plant the seeds in early spring as soon as the ground thaws.
The sun will soon thaw the snow and ice.
The weather is beginning to thaw.
Our cold fingers and toes eventually thawed.
She held the coffee cup tightly, trying to thaw her frozen fingers.
Noun
flooding from the spring thaw
a thaw in international relations
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2024
When the ice eventually thawed, evolutionary activity picked up, and things weren’t so boring anymore.
—David Bressan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
The thaw is arriving in a promising time for accelerating dealmaking across many industries, including the struggling Hollywood studios and other media and entertainment companies, many of which have significant game investments or licensing operations.
—David Bloom, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thaw 
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Verb
Pour the mixture into ice cube trays to freeze and store in a resealable bag, and thaw overnight in the refrigerator to use.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2024
When the ice eventually thawed, evolutionary activity picked up, and things weren’t so boring anymore.
—David Bressan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
In either case, keep watering until the ground freezes, then again if there is a winter thaw, no snow or ice on the ground, and temperatures above 40°F.
Limit or avoid irrigation on poorly draining sites because excess moisture can kill the roots of many tree species.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
The thaw is arriving in a promising time for accelerating dealmaking across many industries, including the struggling Hollywood studios and other media and entertainment companies, many of which have significant game investments or licensing operations.
—David Bloom, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thaw
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Dictionary Entries Near thaw
Cite this Entry
“Thaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thaw. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thaw
1 of 2 verb1
: to melt or cause to melt
ice on the pond is thawing
2
: to become free of the effects of cold temperatures by being exposed to warmth
frozen foods thawed before cooking
thaw
2 of 2 noun1
: the action, fact, or process of thawing
2
: a period of weather warm enough to thaw ice and snow
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