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

Even firm cheeses can be stored in the freezer and defrosted as needed for a quick appetizer option. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025

The crust also freezes well, as most of the pies in supermarket bakeries are merely defrosted and placed out for sale. —Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025

Using a blow dryer to defrost a freezer…genuinely inspired. —Emma Specter, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2025

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