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 polar fish is the only species of shark that can withstand the freezing temperatures year-round. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024 Just 100 km off the African coast, Fuerteventura is truly one of the best winter sun destinations in Europe, perfect for those seeking a tranquil getaway far from the crowds and the freezing temperatures of Northern Europe. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
The natural freezing and thawing cycles common in winter help settle the seeds into the soil, but a little preparation is also needed. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2024 Although rare, some users have complained in the past that updating to a new version of iOS has caused problems with their iPhone freezing and restarting or rebooting. Davey Winder, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near freezing

Cite this Entry

“Freezing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freezing. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on freezing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!