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.
John McConnell McConnell, a federal judge in Rhode Island, ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze federal spending and later found that the administration had not complied with his order. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 Despite multiple court orders to pay up for work already completed, the government has yet to unfreeze all of some $2 billion in funds allocated to aid and other organizations around the world. Byscience News Staff, science.org, 18 Mar. 2025 The Supreme Court refused to halt a lower court ruling Wednesday that required the Trump administration to unfreeze some $1.9 billion in foreign aid payments. Avery Lotz, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025 The Trump administration is beginning to unfreeze funding for at least one federal program aimed at reducing the pollution that is driving climate change. Brad Plumer, New York Times, 21 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 29 Mar. 2025.

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