unfreeze

verb

un·​freeze ˌən-ˈfrēz How to pronounce unfreeze (audio)
unfroze ˌən-ˈfrōz How to pronounce unfreeze (audio) ; unfrozen ˌən-ˈfrō-zᵊn How to pronounce unfreeze (audio) ; unfreezing

transitive verb

1
: to cause to thaw
2
: to remove from a freeze
unfreeze wages

Examples of unfreeze in a Sentence

We can't wait until the ground unfreezes so we can start gardening. The warm weather unfroze the lake. The Justice Department agreed to unfreeze the company's assets. I had to wait for my computer to unfreeze before I could read my e-mail. He helped me to unfreeze my computer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For example, the administration was recently ordered to unfreeze funding approved in climate legislation passed by Congress under the Biden administration. Aris Folley, The Hill, 29 Apr. 2025 Those appeals have led to some losses for the Trump administration -- among them a 5-4 Supreme Court decision ordering the Trump administration to unfreeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid funds for work that aid groups have already completed on the government's behalf. Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025 One day after the address, Barrett sided with the Court majority in a ruling that requires the Trump administration to abide by a lower court order to unfreeze $2 billion in foreign aid. Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025 Business and life plans on hold for now A federal judge has since ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze federal funding, including on open awards, but Dowdy has heard nothing about his grant. Andrea Hsu, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unfreeze

Word History

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfreeze was in 1584

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Cite this Entry

“Unfreeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfreeze. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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