freezing rain
noun
: rain that freezes upon contact with a surface (such as the ground)
But to Healy's surprise, a glaze of freezing rain began to appear on the windshield.—
Jon Vara
Jon VaraThis also explains why the stuff we call freezing rain … falls as a liquid but then turns to a sheet of ice when it strikes the pavement or a tree branch.—Frederick K. Lutgens et al.
compare hail entry 1, sleet entry 1, snow entry 1
Frederick K. Lutgens et al.Examples of freezing rain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That means more rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain and hail.
—Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2024
Rescue teams worked through the night and into the morning of August 24 to search for the hiker, with strong winds and freezing rain hindering their efforts.
—Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 31 Aug. 2024
The Pacific Northwest in general was bracing for freezing rain and ice, but western Oregon was expecting the worst of it as the state's three largest cities − Portland, Salem and Eugene – were forecast to get up to half an inch of ice through early Wednesday before a reprieve later in the day.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
Why are the trees and power lines safe? Usually freezing rain forecasts spell worry for utility companies shuffling power along aerial lines.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for freezing rain 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2024
Rescue teams worked through the night and into the morning of August 24 to search for the hiker, with strong winds and freezing rain hindering their efforts.
—Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 31 Aug. 2024
The Pacific Northwest in general was bracing for freezing rain and ice, but western Oregon was expecting the worst of it as the state's three largest cities − Portland, Salem and Eugene – were forecast to get up to half an inch of ice through early Wednesday before a reprieve later in the day.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
Why are the trees and power lines safe? Usually freezing rain forecasts spell worry for utility companies shuffling power along aerial lines.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for freezing rain
Dictionary Entries Near freezing rain
Cite this Entry
“Freezing rain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freezing%20rain. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share