freezing

1 of 2

adjective

freez·​ing ˈfrē-ziŋ 

1

: very cold

"Put on your jacket. It's freezing outside!"

Addy rushed home through the darkening streets as if she were pushed along by the wind. She was freezing!

—Connie Porter

2

: being at or below the temperature at which water freezes

a forecast for freezing temperatures overnight

freezing adverb

The weather was freezing cold. [=very cold]

freezingly adverb

freezingly cold temperatures

Mrs. Reed's hands still lay on her work inactive: her eye of ice continued to dwell freezingly on mine.

—Charlotte Brontë

freezing

2 of 2

noun

: the temperature at which water freezes

temperatures dipping below freezing

Synonyms of freezing

Adjective

• cold
• icy
• frigid
• chilly
• chill
• cool

Examples of freezing in a Sentence

Adjective

why aren't you wearing a coat, as it's freezing outside?

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The floating eco-luxury retreat features a circular open-air cold bath at its center, where guests plunge directly into the freezing Lule River before moving on to sauna sessions and spa treatments. —Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026

Guests plunge directly into the freezing Lule River, then move to sauna sessions and spa treatments. —Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026

Noun

Many of his Democratic opponents said freezing rates would likely worsen the problem. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 7 May 2026

Rather than relying on external freezing, the machine actively cools liquid ingredients inside the unit, allowing ice pops to form in as little as 25 to 45 minutes. —New Atlas, 5 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing freezing

• freezing point
• freezing rain

Rhymes for freezing

• easing
• pleasing
• seizing
• sneezing
• squeezing
• teasing
• wheezing
• appeasing
• displeasing