thaw

1 of 2

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

thaw

2 of 2

noun

1

: the action, fact, or process of thawing

2

: a period of weather warm enough to thaw ice

the January thaw

3

: the action or process of becoming less aloof, less hostile, or more genial

a thaw in international relations

Synonyms of thaw

Verb

• melt

Examples of thaw in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

flooding from the spring thaw

a thaw in international relations

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The dinner capped a long, but friendly, day of meetings and celebrations, as the world’s two most powerful leaders seek to settle trade differences while simultaneously thawing the icy relationship between the United States and China. — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026

Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, largely from burning fossil fuels, have pushed global temperatures so high that sea levels are rising, and shrinking glaciers and thawing permafrost are leaving mountainsides less stable. — Tarun Gopalakrishnan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

Noun

Shorelines in this part of Alaska are now more vulnerable to erosion due, in part, to decreasing sea ice and permafrost thaw. — Samantha Watson, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026

Refrigerate leftovers promptly and thaw meat, poultry, and seafood safely to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness. — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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