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
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
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
Instead of thawing frozen raw shrimp in the refrigerator or at least under running cold water, the restaurant left the shrimp in standing water in the three-compartment sink.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 July 2025
Darren Franich, Vulture, 16 July 2025
Some experts have speculated that this high-level thaw in U.S.-Russia relations could extend to the nations’ cooperation on the high frontier.
—Eugene Gerden, Scientific American, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for thaw
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Verb
Thaw it in the refrigerator before using, noting that the texture may change slightly after thawing.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
Instead of thawing frozen raw shrimp in the refrigerator or at least under running cold water, the restaurant left the shrimp in standing water in the three-compartment sink.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 July 2025
Noun
But Krypto, appearing in a live-action feature for the first time ever, represents more than just a thaw in this franchise’s recent policy against tomfoolery.
—Darren Franich, Vulture, 16 July 2025
Some experts have speculated that this high-level thaw in U.S.-Russia relations could extend to the nations’ cooperation on the high frontier.
—Eugene Gerden, Scientific American, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for thaw
Cite this Entry
“Thaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thaw. Accessed 21 Aug. 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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