freeze
verb
\ ˈfrēz
\
\
froze\ ˈfrōz
\;
frozen\ ˈfrō-zᵊn
\;
freezing
\;
frozen\ ˈfrō-zᵊn
\;
freezing
Definition of freeze
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: to become congealed into ice by cold
b
: to solidify as a result of abstraction of heat
c
: to withstand freezing
the bread freezes well
2
: to become chilled with cold
almost froze to death
3
: to adhere solidly by or as if by freezing
pressure caused the metals to freeze
4
: to become fixed or motionless
especially
: to become incapable of acting or speaking
5
: to become clogged with ice
the water pipes froze
1a
: to harden into ice
b
: to convert from a liquid to a solid by cold
2
: to make extremely cold : chill
3a
: to act on usually destructively by frost
b
: to anesthetize by cold
4
: to cause to grip tightly or remain in immovable contact
5a
: to cause to become fixed, immovable, unavailable, or unalterable
freeze interest rates
b
: to immobilize by governmental regulation the expenditure, withdrawal, or exchange of
freeze foreign assets
c
: to render motionless
a fake froze the defender
6
: to attempt to retain continuous possession of (a ball or puck) without an attempt to score usually in order to protect a small lead
freeze
nounDefinition of freeze (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: an act or instance of freezing
b
: the state of being frozen
2
: a state of weather marked by low temperature especially when below the freezing point
3
: a halt in the production, testing, and deployment of military weapons
a nuclear freeze
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Synonyms & Antonyms for freeze
Synonyms: Verb
concrete, congeal, firm (up), harden, indurate, set, solidify
Synonyms: Noun
cold, cold wave, deep freeze, snap
Antonyms: Verb
liquefy (also liquify), soften
Antonyms: Noun
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Examples of freeze in a Sentence
Verb
The children are going to freeze out there without their coats. The cold weather froze the water pipes.Noun
The freeze destroyed many oranges. the Midwest will experience an intense freeze later in the week
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
President Barack Obama, seeking to save consumers money and fight climate change, set tough fuel economy standards, including the 2025 goal that Trump wants to freeze. — Randy Essex, Detroit Free Press, "Why Trump is using Henry Ford, gas mileage to call out automakers on Twitter," 22 Aug. 2019 After their planned 20 September departure, MOSAiC leaders will face a crucial early decision: where to freeze the ship, which will determine its drift track over the next year. — Eli Kintisch, Science | AAAS, "Arctic researchers will lock this ship in ice for a year to study the changing polar region," 20 Aug. 2019 Human milk banks The first hospital to formally freeze and distribute donor milk launched in Vienna in 1909. — Annabelle Timsit, Quartz Africa, "Kenya hopes its first human milk bank will save infants’ lives," 13 Aug. 2019 Republican campaign committees in both the House and Senate vowed to freeze ad spending on Twitter's platform until Twitter restored McConnell's account. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Twitter backs down, allows McConnell to post video of protestor threats," 9 Aug. 2019 Egg-freezing lets young, healthy women donate to their future selves. — The Economist, "The fertility business is booming," 8 Aug. 2019 Trump proposed to freeze the current requirement of 37 mpg by 2021. — Dan Walters, The Mercury News, "Walters: California scores a tactical win in war with Trump," 30 July 2019 For best protection, remember to freeze your credit at all three bureaus once you’re done with your applications. 3. — Nerdwallet, oregonlive.com, "How to protect yourself after the Capital One data breach," 29 July 2019 If someone hears the distinctive rattle of a rattlesnake, Ramirez says to freeze and identify where the noise is coming from, take several steps back, out of danger, make sure there is not another in the vicinity, and then give him a call. — Scott Strazzante, SFChronicle.com, "Rattlesnake wrangler constantly on call to remove, relocate snakes," 28 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The frozen gel can then be freeze-dried by a vacuum pulling on the gel at very low temperatures, ultimately creating a dry sponge-like material. — Natalie R. Rubio, The Conversation, "So far cultured meat has been burgers – the next big challenge is animal-free steaks," 5 July 2019 Freezers are too heavy and power-intensive to carry, so all edibles must be freeze-dried or grown onboard. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Long-term space journeys to allow humans to become almost completely self-sufficient," 8 June 2019 The justices who lifted the freeze on the money did not give a lengthy explanation for their decision. — Jessica Gresko, chicagotribune.com, "Supreme Court allows Trump administration to use $2.5 billion in Pentagon funds for border wall construction," 26 July 2019 The justices’ decision to lift the freeze on the money allows Trump to make progress on a major 2016 campaign promise heading into his race for a second term. — Jessica Gresko, The Denver Post, "Supreme Court clears way for Trump administration to tap Pentagon funds for border wall construction," 26 July 2019 Tencent’s market value fell by a record-breaking $271 billion last year partly because of a complete freeze on new game approvals from March through December of 2018. — Los Angeles Times, "How U.S. video game companies are building tools for China’s surveillance state," 22 July 2019 Those choices include automating more jobs, putting a freeze on hiring, cutting jobs and raising prices. — Russ Wiles, azcentral, "Arizona's minimum wage increase has helped workers and not hurt job growth, study finds," 18 July 2019 Doing a yearslong gradual process with a freeze on activity as the initial goal would amount to tacit acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear state. — Edward Wong, New York Times, "Trump Officials Are Split Over Approach to North Korea Talks," 1 July 2019 The budget would continue a freeze on in-state tuition that has been in place since 2013. — Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Assembly approves budget after adding provisions to secure votes from last Republicans," 25 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'freeze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.