defrost

verb

de·​frost di-ˈfrȯst 

ˈdē-ˌfrȯst

defrosted; defrosting; defrosts

transitive verb

1

: to release from a frozen state

defrost meat

2

a

: to free from ice

defrost a refrigerator/freezer

b

: to clear (a window or windshield) with a vehicle's defroster

defrost a windshield to clear it of ice and condensation

intransitive verb

: to thaw out especially from a deep-frozen state

Examples of defrost in a Sentence

You can defrost the soup in the microwave.

Has the refrigerator defrosted yet?

Recent Examples on the Web

Homemade cranberry sauce and relish taste just as bright and zingy even after they have been defrosted. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025

Pets would defrost and decompose. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025

Souper Cube also makes a set of four stoneware dishes that accept the 1-cup rectangles perfectly, for defrosting and then baking in one go. —Nena Farrell, Wired News, 15 Oct. 2025

Frozen avocado can be added directly to smoothies and blended soups or can be defrosted to use in guacamole and dishes like avocado toast. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for defrost

• accost
• crisscrossed
• embossed
• exhaust
• recrossed
• uncrossed
• bossed
• cost
• crossed
• dost
• glossed
• lost

Kids Definition

defrost

verb

de·​frost di-ˈfrȯst 

ˈdē-

1

: to free from a frozen state : thaw out

defrost meat

2

: to free from ice

defrost a refrigerator

3

: to remove fog or condensed moisture from

defrost the windshield