freeze

1 of 2

verb

ˈfrēz 

froze ˈfrōz  ; frozen ˈfrō-zᵊn  ; freezing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to become congealed into ice by cold

b

: to solidify as a result of abstraction of heat

The results are put in a freezer for a further two days until the oil freezes on the top and can be lifted off.

—Peter Neville-Hadley

c

: to withstand freezing

The bread freezes well.

2

: to become chilled with cold

almost froze to death

3

: to adhere solidly by or as if by freezing

Pressure caused the metals to freeze.

The wheel bearing froze.

4

a

: to become fixed or motionless

especially : to become incapable of acting or speaking

froze in front of the crowd

b

: to stop working

The computer just froze.

5

: to become clogged with ice

The water pipes froze

transitive verb

1

: to harden into a solid (such as ice) by cold

Let's say it is a regular 5 or 6% alcohol beer and it was left outside at 25 degrees. That's enough to freeze the water in there, but not enough to freeze the alcohol.

—Jeff Bonner, quoted in, Morning Call

2

: to make extremely cold : chill

The cold wind froze their cheeks.

3

a

: to act on usually destructively by frost

Unseasonable cold froze the flowers.

b

: to anesthetize by cold

4

: to cause to grip tightly or remain in immovable contact

5

a

: to cause to become fixed, immovable, unavailable, or unalterable

freeze interest rates

b

: to immobilize by governmental regulation the expenditure, withdrawal, or exchange of

freeze foreign assets

c

: to render motionless

a fake froze the defender

6

: to attempt to retain continuous possession of (a ball or puck) without an attempt to score usually in order to protect a small lead

freeze

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an act or instance of freezing

b

: the state of being frozen

2

: a state of weather marked by low temperature especially when below the freezing point

3

: a halt in the production, testing, and deployment of military weapons

a nuclear freeze

Synonyms of freeze

Verb

• harden
• stiffen

Noun

• cold

Examples of freeze in a Sentence

Verb

The children are going to freeze out there without their coats.

The cold weather froze the water pipes.

Noun

The freeze destroyed many oranges.

the Midwest will experience an intense freeze later in the week

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In a statement, the NCAA later confirmed a malfunction happened when the scoreboard system froze, causing the horn to also freeze and blare uninterrupted for several minutes. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026

Saturday night, lows will be on the cold side, dipping to around freezing in the city, and 20s across the suburbs. —Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026

Noun

In late January, NASA published satellite imagery capturing ice on the Hudson River and other waterways around New York City during a prolonged freeze, while city ferries suspended operations due to ice buildup, highlighting the season’s volatility. —Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Immediate cost-saving measures are already in place, including districtwide freezes on hiring and out-of-county travel. —Howard Hepburn, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English fresen, from Old English frēosan; akin to Old High German friosan to freeze, Latin pruina hoarfrost, Old English frost frost

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing freeze

• brain freeze
• deep-freeze
• flash-freeze
• freeze-dried
• freeze-dry
• freeze-etching
• freeze-fracture
• freeze-fractured
• freeze-fracturing
• freeze-frame
• freeze out
• freeze to death
• quick-freeze
• stop/freeze in one's tracks

Rhymes for freeze

• bees
• bes
• breeze
• cheese
• crees
• crise
• deas
• dees
• ease
• fees
• fleas
• flees

Kids Definition

freeze

1 of 2 verb

ˈfrēz 

froze ˈfrōz  ; frozen ˈfrōz-ᵊn  ; freezing

1

: to harden into or be hardened into a solid (as ice) by loss of heat

the river froze over

freeze the stew for dinner next week

2

: to be or become uncomfortably cold

turn up the heat—I'm freezing

3

a

: to damage or kill by frost

froze the tomato plants

b

: to anesthetize by cold

4

: to stick by or as if by freezing

the clothes froze to the line

fear froze the driver's hands to the wheel

5

: to clog or become clogged with ice

the water pipes froze

6

: to make or become fixed or motionless

the engine froze

froze in their tracks

7

: to fix at a certain stage or level

freeze prices

freeze

2 of 2 noun

1

: a state of weather marked by low temperature

2

a

: an act or instance of freezing

a wage freeze

b

: the state of being frozen

Medical Definition

freeze

verb

ˈfrēz 

froze ˈfrōz  ; frozen ˈfrōz-ᵊn  ; freezing

intransitive verb

1

: to become hardened into a solid (as ice) by loss of heat

2

a

: to become chilled with cold

almost froze to death

b

: to anesthetize a part especially by cold

transitive verb

1

: to cause to harden into a solid (as ice) by loss of heat

2

: to make extremely cold : chill

3

a

: to act on usually destructively by frost

b

: to anesthetize by cold

Legal Definition

freeze

transitive verb

froze; frozen; freezing

1

: to cause to become fixed, immovable, unavailable, or unalterable

freeze interest rates

2

: to immobilize (as by government regulation or the action of a financial institution) the expenditure, withdrawal, or exchange of

freeze foreign assets

3

: to restructure (the capital of a close corporation) so that the value is reflected mostly in preferred stock rather than common stock

Note: Once capital is frozen, the common shares can be transferred to the heirs of the owner without taxation while the owner continues to enjoy the income from preferred stock dividends during his or her lifetime.

freeze noun