thawed; thawing; thaws
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
: to cause to thaw
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
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
Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
If the juice was contaminated before freezing, pathogens may still survive and resume growing once thawed.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Cover the rows with a 3- to 4-inch layer of natural mulch after planting to insulate the cloves from cold and protect them during freeze-and-thaw cycles during winter and early spring.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thaw
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Improper thawing method being used for TCS food.
—Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
If the juice was contaminated before freezing, pathogens may still survive and resume growing once thawed.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
For best results, allow dish to thaw prior to baking.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Cover the rows with a 3- to 4-inch layer of natural mulch after planting to insulate the cloves from cold and protect them during freeze-and-thaw cycles during winter and early spring.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thaw
Cite this Entry
“Thaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thaw. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thaw
1 of 2 verb1
: 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 noun1
: the action, fact, or process of thawing
2
: a period of weather warm enough to thaw ice and snow
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