thaw

American  

[thaw] / θɔ /

verb (used without object)

1. to pass or change from a frozen to a liquid or semiliquid state; melt.

   Antonyms:

   freeze

2. to be freed from the physical effect of frost or extreme cold (sometimes followed byout ).

   Sit by the fire and thaw out.

   Synonyms:

   warm

3. (of the weather) to become warm enough to melt ice and snow.

   It will probably thaw today.

4. to become less formal, reserved, or aloof.

   He thawed at their kindness.

5. to become less hostile or tense.

   International relations thawed.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to change from a frozen to a liquid or semiliquid state; melt.

2. to free from the physical effect of frost or extreme cold; bring to a more normal temperature, especially to room temperature.

   I took the steaks out of the freezer and thawed them.

3. to make less cold, formal, or reserved.

   Synonyms:

   warm

4. to make less tense or hostile.

noun

1. the act or process of thawing.

2. the act or fact of becoming less formal, reserved, or aloof.

3. a reduction or easing in tension or hostility.

4. (in winter or in areas where freezing weather is the norm) weather warm enough to melt ice and snow.

5. a period of such weather.

   We had a two-week thaw in January.

6. the thaw, the first day in the year when ice in harbors, rivers, etc., breaks up or loosens enough to begin flowing to the sea, allowing navigation.

   The Anchorage thaw came on May 18th.

thaw British  

/ θɔː /

verb

1. to melt or cause to melt from a solid frozen state

   the snow thawed

2. to become or cause to become unfrozen; defrost

3. (intr) to be the case that the ice or snow is melting

   it's thawing fast

4. (intr) to become more sociable, relaxed, or friendly

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noun

1. the act or process of thawing

2. a spell of relatively warm weather, causing snow or ice to melt

3. an increase in relaxation or friendliness

Related Words

See melt ¹.

Other Word Forms

• rethaw verb
• thawer noun
• thawless adjective
• underthaw verb
• unthawed adjective
• unthawing adjective

Etymology

Origin of thaw

First recorded before 1000; (verb) Middle English thawen, Old English thawian; cognate with Dutch dooien, Old Norse theyja; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the verb

Example Sentences

Still, he looked ahead to a spring thaw.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

During President Obama’s first term, when the U.S. and Cuba initially made attempts to thaw our icy relationship, I visited the island country as part of an educational delegation.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

There have been early signs of a thaw in a housing market that’s been iced by high borrowing costs, high home prices and low inventory.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

There is a thaw in the real estate market for spring.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The earth smelled of thaw, and the smell, which is both hopeful and sad, seeped into the room, riding the wetness of the air.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

Related Words

• defrost
• dissolve
• loosen
• melt
• relax
• soften
• warm up