refrigerate

verb

re·​frig·​er·​ate ri-ˈfri-jə-ˌrāt 

refrigerated; refrigerating

transitive verb

: to make or keep cold or cool

specifically : to freeze or chill for preservation

foods that should be refrigerated

refrigeration

ri-ˌfri-jə-ˈrā-shən 

noun

Synonyms of refrigerate

• freeze
• chill
• cool

Examples of refrigerate in a Sentence

Refrigerate the mixture for an hour before serving.

refrigerate the cake after you frost it so that the frosting doesn't melt

Recent Examples on the Web

Let sit at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate overnight. —Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026

Once a food is cut, peeled or cooked, it should be refrigerated within two hours, if not used right away. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 3 June 2026

Scoop it after it was done refrigerating and then rolled it in confectioner sugar and baked them. —Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2026

Allow dilly beans to refrigerate for 24 hours for the best flavor and texture. —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin refrigeratus, past participle of refrigerare, from re- + frigerare to cool, from frigor-, frigus cold — more at frigid

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for refrigerate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

refrigerate

verb

re·​frig·​er·​ate ri-ˈfrij-ə-ˌrāt 

refrigerated; refrigerating

: to make or keep cold or cool

especially : to freeze or chill food to preserve it

refrigeration

-ˌfrij-ə-ˈrā-shən 

noun