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Showing results for "freezing"
  • present participle of freeze.
Synonyms

freezing

American  
[free-zing] / ˈfri zɪŋ /

adjective

  1. (of temperatures) approaching, at, or below the freezing point.

  2. extremely or uncomfortably cold; chilled.

    We were both freezing and welcomed the hot cocoa.

  3. beginning to freeze or partially frozen; in the process of being or becoming frozen.


freezing British  
/ ˈfriːzɪŋ /

adjective

  1. informal extremely cold

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of freezing

First recorded in 1605–15; freeze + -ing 2

Vocabulary lists containing freezing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He said heavy rain could overwhelm drainage systems and penetrate walls, causing damp and erosion, while repeated cycles of wetting, drying, freezing and thawing could harm stonework.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

Nepal was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of destruction from the tsunami-like wall of freezing water and debris triggered by a glacial and rock collapse on the Nepal-China border on August 26.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Whether walking in freezing rain without an umbrella or wearing Mickey Mouse ears around campus, Zamorano always knows what he’s doing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

Universities across the country are slashing admissions to doctoral programs and freezing faculty hiring as they come under financial strain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

He was freezing cold and caked in grime and sure of absolutely nothing except that he had just made a series of horrible mistakes, each worse than the last.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

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