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

Some of them walked down a long path outside, and lowered themselves gingerly into the freezing waters of the fjord. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026

According to Molaei, ticks frequently shelter under leaf litter or snow to survive freezing temperatures in winter. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026

Noun

Because temperatures may frequently hover near freezing, the type of precipitation could change quickly. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026

But freezing is not what gives chia seeds their gut-health benefits. — Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 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