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
Connie Porter2
: 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
Charlotte Brontë
: the temperature at which water freezes
temperatures dipping below freezing
Examples of freezing in a Sentence
Adjective
why aren't you wearing a coat, as it's freezing outside?
Recent Examples on the Web
Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Millions of Americans face sub-freezing conditions on Friday as temperatures plummet and wintery conditions hit.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Nuts with high-oil content like walnuts, macadamias, pecans, and pine nuts benefit the most from refrigerating or freezing, helping to extend their shelf life.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for freezing
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.
Adjective
Lo then jumps overboard to escape the assault and swims through the freezing waters to shore.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Millions of Americans face sub-freezing conditions on Friday as temperatures plummet and wintery conditions hit.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
An extra-soft layer of fleece keeps you toasty even as temperatures dive toward freezing; a water-resistant outer shell makes sure things stay that way, even if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
—Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Nuts with high-oil content like walnuts, macadamias, pecans, and pine nuts benefit the most from refrigerating or freezing, helping to extend their shelf life.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for freezing
Cite this Entry
“Freezing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freezing. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share