1
: to become a hard substance (such as ice) because of cold
Water freezes (in)to ice.
The pond froze over. [=the surface of the pond froze]
The pond froze solid. [=the water in the pond froze completely]
The low temperature froze the river (over).
2
: to be very cold
The children are going to freeze out there without their coats.
She nearly froze to death. [=nearly died from the cold]
3
: to become blocked or unable to move because of ice
The water pipes froze.
My car doors froze.
The cold weather froze the water pipes.
4
: to preserve (food) by storing it in a very cold place
We froze the leftovers. [=we put the leftovers in the freezer]
Some vegetables don't freeze well.
5
a
: to stop moving : to become completely still
The guard ordered him to freeze.
The deer froze in the road as the car approached it.
b
: to become unable to do or say anything
She froze (up) when the teacher asked her a difficult question.
c
: to stop working
The engine suddenly froze.
My computer has frozen (up) again.
d
: to cause (a person or animal) to stop moving
A fake by the quarterback froze the defender.
The lights of the approaching car froze the deer.
6
a
: to stop (something, such as prices or wages) from changing or increasing
The government froze prices on certain materials.
The struggling company had to freeze wages and eliminate several jobs.
b
: to stop (money or property) from being used, spent, etc.
The government has frozen foreign assets.
plural freezes
1
: a period in which the weather is very cold : a time when temperatures are below 32°F or 0°C
The freeze destroyed many oranges.
2
: a stop in the increase, decrease, or change of prices or wages
a six-month wage freeze = a six-month freeze on wages
a price freeze
Cite this Entry
“Freeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/freeze. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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