freezing

1 of 2

adjective

freez·​ing ˈfrē-ziŋ 

1

: very cold

"Put on your jacket. It's freezing outside!"

Addy rushed home through the darkening streets as if she were pushed along by the wind. She was freezing!

—Connie Porter

2

: being at or below the temperature at which water freezes

a forecast for freezing temperatures overnight

freezing adverb

The weather was freezing cold. [=very cold]

freezingly adverb

freezingly cold temperatures

Mrs. Reed's hands still lay on her work inactive: her eye of ice continued to dwell freezingly on mine.

—Charlotte Brontë

freezing

2 of 2

noun

: the temperature at which water freezes

temperatures dipping below freezing

Synonyms of freezing

Adjective

• cold
• icy
• frigid
• chilly
• chill
• cool

Examples of freezing in a Sentence

Adjective

why aren't you wearing a coat, as it's freezing outside?

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Temperatures reached the freezing mark in Austin around noon and remained below freezing until Monday afternoon. —Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026

Utilizing battery technologies is also difficult, as the freezing temperatures adversely affect performance. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026

Noun

Temperatures will likely not get back above freezing until Tuesday of next week, marking 10 days of subfreezing temps. —Bill Kelly, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026

Remove ripe or overripe fruit from your kitchen as fast as possible by consuming, refrigerating, freezing, or composting. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing freezing

• freezing point
• freezing rain

Rhymes for freezing

• easing
• pleasing
• seizing
• sneezing
• squeezing
• teasing
• wheezing
• appeasing
• displeasing