thaw

verb

ˈthȯ 

thawed; thawing; thaws

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go from a frozen to a liquid state : melt

b

: to become free of the effect (such as stiffness, numbness, or hardness) of cold as a result of exposure to warmth

2

: to be warm enough to melt ice and snow

—used with it in reference to the weather

3

: to abandon aloofness, reserve, or hostility : unbend

4

: to become mobile, active, or susceptible to change

transitive verb

: to cause to thaw

Synonyms of thaw

• melt

Examples of thaw in a Sentence

Plant the seeds in early spring as soon as the ground thaws.

The sun will soon thaw the snow and ice.

The weather is beginning to thaw.

Our cold fingers and toes eventually thawed.

She held the coffee cup tightly, trying to thaw her frozen fingers.

Recent Examples on the Web

America’s national parks shine in the summertime, with spectacular mountain passes thawed for the season, sparkling lakes and glittering beaches at the peak of their allure, and blankets of wildflowers exploding into bloom. —Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026

The Quibi debacle has not completely thawed that reticence. —Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

When the woman is ready to try and have children, even years later, the eggs can be thawed, fertilized and implanted in her uterus. —Will Croxton, CBS News, 31 May 2026

Drain off any liquids after thawing, unless a recipe specifies otherwise. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English thawian; akin to Old High German douwen to thaw, Greek tēkein to melt, Latin tabēre to waste away

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for thaw

• aah
• ah
• ahh
• aw
• awe
• bah
• blah
• bra
• caw
• claw
• craw
• daw

Kids Definition

thaw

1 of 2 verb

ˈthȯ 

1

: to melt or cause to melt

ice on the pond is thawing

2

: to become free of the effects of cold temperatures by being exposed to warmth

frozen foods thawed before cooking

thaw

2 of 2 noun

1

: the action, fact, or process of thawing

2

: a period of weather warm enough to thaw ice and snow