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

This 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

Examples of freezing rain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The upper slopes of the eastern Washington Cascades could also see up to 10 inches of snow, and the lower slopes up to 7 inches, with isolated freezing rain also expected to affect these areas. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

After a mostly sunny, cool Thanksgiving week, some forecasters suggest freezing rain could be possible the first week of December in Fort Worth. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Nov. 2025

Ideally, on a windy day in freezing rain. —New York Times, 25 Nov. 2025

By Sydney Page The Washington Post The day Betty Kellenberger hit a patch of freezing rain on Mount Madison, quitting crossed her mind. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for freezing rain

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• gethsemane
• halothane
• hurricane

Kids Definition

freezing rain

noun

: rain that freezes upon contact with a surface (as the ground)