freezing rain
noun
: rain that freezes upon contact with a surface (such as the ground)
But to Healy's surprise, a glaze of freezing rain began to appear on the windshield.—
Jon Vara
Jon VaraThis also explains why the stuff we call freezing rain … falls as a liquid but then turns to a sheet of ice when it strikes the pavement or a tree branch.—Frederick K. Lutgens et al.
compare hail entry 1, sleet entry 1, snow entry 1
Frederick K. Lutgens et al.Examples of freezing rain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The record’s cold and bleak, but also a wonderland of sci-fi vision and comic book mysticism, B-boy tears in freezing rain.
—Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
For the winter weather advisory, up to 2 inches of snow is possible, as well as freezing rain.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Northern Texas could get snow and freezing rain in mid-January and snow again in mid-February and mid-March, according to the Almanac.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Instead, most of the precipitation is expected to fall as a mix of freezing rain and sleet starting later today and lingering through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for freezing rain
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Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
For the winter weather advisory, up to 2 inches of snow is possible, as well as freezing rain.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Northern Texas could get snow and freezing rain in mid-January and snow again in mid-February and mid-March, according to the Almanac.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Instead, most of the precipitation is expected to fall as a mix of freezing rain and sleet starting later today and lingering through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for freezing rain
Cite this Entry
“Freezing rain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freezing%20rain. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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