freezing

1 of 3

adjective

freez·​ing ˈfrē-ziŋ 

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 3

noun

: the temperature at which water freezes

temperatures dipping below freezing

freezing

3 of 3

present participle of freeze entry 1

Synonyms of freezing

Adjective

• cold
• icy
• frigid
• chilly
• chill
• cool

Examples of freezing in a Sentence

Adjective

why aren't you wearing a coat, as it's freezing outside?

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

With that, Dorinda gathers everyone (except for Chanel Ayan, who is too beautiful for the cold) out into the freezing night for the fireworks that end this celebration. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

The hot water gushing into an isolated region of the freezing depths could have attracted microorganisms and possibly other life forms that were otherwise struggling to survive. — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026

Noun

Additional episodes will explore health topics including breast reductions, egg freezing, GLP-1s, Alzheimer’s disease, thyroid diseases, and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Remove ripe or overripe fruit from your kitchen as quickly as possible by eating, refrigerating, freezing, or composting it. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing freezing

• freezing point
• freezing rain

Rhymes for freezing

• easing
• pleasing
• seizing
• sneezing
• squeezing
• teasing
• wheezing
• appeasing
• displeasing