1
a
: having or being a temperature that is uncomfortably low for humans
it is cold outside today
a cold drafty attic
b
: having a relatively low temperature or one lower than normal or expected
the bath water has gotten cold
c
: not heated: such as
(1)
of food
: served without heating especially after initial cooking or processing
cold cereal
cold roast beef
(2)
: served chilled or with ice
a cold drink
(3)
: involving processing without the use of heat
cold working of steel
2
a
: marked by a lack of the warmth of normal human emotion, friendliness, or compassion
a cold stare
got a cold reception
also
: not moved to enthusiasm
the movie leaves me cold
b
: not colored or affected by personal feeling or bias : detached, indifferent
cold chronicles recorded by an outsider—
Andrew Sarris
Andrew Sarris
c
: marked by sure familiarity : pat
had her lines cold weeks before opening night
3
4
a
: marked by the loss of normal body heat
cold hands
b
: giving the appearance of being dead : unconscious
passed out cold
5
a
: having lost freshness or vividness : stale
dogs trying to pick up a cold scent
b
: far off the mark : not close to finding or solving
—used especially in children's games
c
: marked by poor or unlucky performance
the team's shooting turned cold in the second half
d
: not prepared or suitably warmed up
The player's sub entered the game cold.
1
: bodily sensation produced by loss or lack of heat
they died of the cold
2
: a condition of low temperature
extremes of heat and cold
especially
: cold weather
He waited outside for her in the bitter cold.
3
: a bodily disorder popularly associated with chilling
1
: with utter finality : absolutely, completely
turned down cold
2
a
: without introduction or advance notice
walked in cold to apply for a job
b
: without preparation or warm-up
was asked to perform the solo cold
Synonyms
Examples of cold in a Sentence
Adjective
The water was too cold for swimming.
The weather has been unusually cold this spring.
a country with a cold climate
It was a long, cold winter.
It's cold outside, but the wind makes it feel even colder.
It's bitterly cold out there!
metal that is cold to the touch
Are you cold? I could turn up the temperature if you'd like.
a bowl of cold cereal
He ate cold pizza for breakfast.
Noun
I mind cold more than heat.
They died of exposure to cold.
The cold really sets in around late November and doesn't let up until April.
I stood there shivering in the cold.
He waited outside for her in the bitter cold.
Come in out of the cold.
It's not the flu, it's just a cold.
Adverb
She was asked to perform the song cold.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebChristina Pérez, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2023
Near dawn, dew points increase into the upper 20s, about as cold as our typically chilliest spots get.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2023
By late 2016, the investigation into Stephen Smith's death went cold.
—Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2023
There are few things more satisfying than crawling into your cozy, comfy bed when the weather gets cold—and a high-quality mattress is a key player in that idyllic wintertime scene.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 25 Nov. 2023
Featuring the thermodynamic technology that made the line big, the cooler keeps your arsenal of drinks, your morning’s catch, and your camp essentials cold for days, with sturdy portability and stunning aesthetics.
—Red Fabbri, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2023
After eating a lunch of cold, roasted deer ribs, my dog and I started out to add another deer to the bag.
—Outdoor Life, 23 Nov. 2023
The National Weather Service said that heavy snow could disrupt travel plans in the northern and central Rockies and High Plains on Thursday, with cold air from the Arctic sweeping over much of the northern parts of the country.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 23 Nov. 2023
As a study in the journal Chest reported, many cold symptoms, like cough and congestion, are triggered by an inflammatory immune response to the infection—but the ingredients in a steamy bowl of chicken soup can help thwart the rush of the protective cells involved in that reaction.
—Christine Byrne, Mph, SELF, 13 Nov. 2023
Bloomberg, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2023
There are even specialist boots out there with up to 2,000 grams of insulation for sedentary activities in extreme cold like hunting or ice fishing.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the new round of test shipments Monday as the holiday season begins — a time when public health experts typically expect cases of Covid, flu, colds and respiratory syncytial virus to surge.
—Katie Mogg, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023
These garments and sleeping bags are for extreme cold.
—WIRED, 5 Nov. 2023
Sleep and rest are essential to body and mind recovery during a cold or the flu.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Oct. 2023
Extreme cold will still occur this winter, but perhaps less often than during more typical winters, Gottschalck said.
—Scott Dance, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023
Keep your fat cold: Cold butter and/or shortening is key to creating flaky layers.
—Nancie McDermott, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2023
What does El Niño mean for D.C. cold and snow this winter?
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023
Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 4 Sep. 2023
Garden mums, on the other hand, can survive cold better.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2023
Initial leads running cold over the weekend with over 200 officers working the case.
—Adrienne Vogt, CNN, 3 May 2023
First detected in the stream after the stream mouth emerged from glacial ice were larvae of chironomids, cold-loving midges.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2023
The green mandarin that features in Armani Code Eau de Toilette was cold-extracted from fruits handpicked in Calabria, Italy—a sourcing method that helps support local farmers and invests in responsible agricultural practices.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2023
Clothing choice in what appears to be below-zero weather is the low point here: they are all clad in metal armor, which is likely heavy, restrictive, and cold-conducting.
—Benjamin Tepler, Outside Online, 14 Oct. 2022
The compilation was spurred by longtime Alaska journalist and writer Lael Morgan, who cold-called James and pitched him on the idea of a book focusing on Alaska literature.
—Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Mar. 2023
In short, the prankster pretended to be a cop and, over and over again, cold-called a series of fast-food restaurants, eventually convincing a manager at each one to strip-search a young female worker.
—Chris Hachey, BGR, 15 Dec. 2022
See More
Adjective
Other symptoms—like cold hands, cold feet, and pale skin—could easily be attributed to climate, lifestyle, or weather.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2023
Near dawn, dew points increase into the upper 20s, about as cold as our typically chilliest spots get.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2023
By late 2016, the investigation into Stephen Smith's death went cold.
—Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2023
There are few things more satisfying than crawling into your cozy, comfy bed when the weather gets cold—and a high-quality mattress is a key player in that idyllic wintertime scene.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 25 Nov. 2023
Featuring the thermodynamic technology that made the line big, the cooler keeps your arsenal of drinks, your morning’s catch, and your camp essentials cold for days, with sturdy portability and stunning aesthetics.
—Red Fabbri, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2023
After eating a lunch of cold, roasted deer ribs, my dog and I started out to add another deer to the bag.
—Outdoor Life, 23 Nov. 2023
The National Weather Service said that heavy snow could disrupt travel plans in the northern and central Rockies and High Plains on Thursday, with cold air from the Arctic sweeping over much of the northern parts of the country.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 23 Nov. 2023
As a study in the journal Chest reported, many cold symptoms, like cough and congestion, are triggered by an inflammatory immune response to the infection—but the ingredients in a steamy bowl of chicken soup can help thwart the rush of the protective cells involved in that reaction.
—Christine Byrne, Mph, SELF, 13 Nov. 2023
Noun
While the germ tends to cause only mild colds in older kids and adults with robust immune systems, younger children are prone to develop pneumonia — with symptoms lasting for weeks.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2023
There are even specialist boots out there with up to 2,000 grams of insulation for sedentary activities in extreme cold like hunting or ice fishing.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the new round of test shipments Monday as the holiday season begins — a time when public health experts typically expect cases of Covid, flu, colds and respiratory syncytial virus to surge.
—Katie Mogg, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023
These garments and sleeping bags are for extreme cold.
—WIRED, 5 Nov. 2023
Sleep and rest are essential to body and mind recovery during a cold or the flu.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Oct. 2023
Extreme cold will still occur this winter, but perhaps less often than during more typical winters, Gottschalck said.
—Scott Dance, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023
Keep your fat cold: Cold butter and/or shortening is key to creating flaky layers.
—Nancie McDermott, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2023
What does El Niño mean for D.C. cold and snow this winter?
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023
Adverb
If the suspect is an undocumented immigrant, the trail can go cold quickly.
—Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 4 Sep. 2023
Garden mums, on the other hand, can survive cold better.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2023
Initial leads running cold over the weekend with over 200 officers working the case.
—Adrienne Vogt, CNN, 3 May 2023
First detected in the stream after the stream mouth emerged from glacial ice were larvae of chironomids, cold-loving midges.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2023
The green mandarin that features in Armani Code Eau de Toilette was cold-extracted from fruits handpicked in Calabria, Italy—a sourcing method that helps support local farmers and invests in responsible agricultural practices.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2023
Clothing choice in what appears to be below-zero weather is the low point here: they are all clad in metal armor, which is likely heavy, restrictive, and cold-conducting.
—Benjamin Tepler, Outside Online, 14 Oct. 2022
The compilation was spurred by longtime Alaska journalist and writer Lael Morgan, who cold-called James and pitched him on the idea of a book focusing on Alaska literature.
—Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Mar. 2023
In short, the prankster pretended to be a cop and, over and over again, cold-called a series of fast-food restaurants, eventually convincing a manager at each one to strip-search a young female worker.
—Chris Hachey, BGR, 15 Dec. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, going back to Old English cald (Anglian), ceald (West Saxon), going back to Germanic *kalða- (whence Old Saxon cald "cold," Middle Dutch cout, Old High German kalt, Old Norse kaldr, Gothic kalds), verbal adjective from *kalan- "to be cold" (whence Old English calan "to be cold, to make cold," Old Norse kala "to freeze") going back to a dialectal Indo-European base *ǵel-, *ǵol-, whence also Latin gelū, gelus "frost, cold," gelāre "to freeze, chill"
Noun
Middle English, going back to Old English ceald, cald, noun derivative of ceald, cald cold entry 1 (or derivative from the Germanic base of these adjectives)
Adverb
derivative of cold entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Adverb
1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of cold was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing cold
Dictionary Entries Near cold
Cite this Entry
“Cold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
cold
1 of 2 adjective1
: having a low temperature or one much below normal
a cold day
a cold drink
2
: lacking warmth of feeling : unfriendly
a cold stare
3
: suffering or uncomfortable from lack of warmth
they feel cold
4
a
: marked by the loss of normal body heat
cold hands
b
: giving the appearance of being dead : unconscious
passed out cold
coldly
adverb
cold
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a condition of low temperature
b
: cold weather
2
: bodily sensation produced by loss or lack of heat : chill
3
: a bodily disorder popularly associated with chilling
especially
: common cold
Medical Definition
cold
1 of 3 adjective1
a
: having or being a temperature that is noticeably lower than body temperature and especially that is uncomfortable for humans
a cold drafty room
b
: having a relatively low temperature or one that is lower than normal or expected
the bath water has gotten cold
c
: receptive to the sensation of coldness : stimulated by cold
a cold spot is a typical receptor in higher vertebrates
2
: marked by the loss of normal body heat
cold hands
3
: dead
4
: exhibiting little or no radioactivity
cold
2 of 3 noun1
: bodily sensation produced by loss or lack of heat
2
: a bodily disorder popularly associated with chilling:
a
in humans
: common cold
b
in domestic animals
: coryza
COLD
3 of 3 abbreviation
More from Merriam-Webster on cold
Nglish: Translation of cold for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of cold for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cold
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