Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
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; frozen; in the process of being or becoming frozen. 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

  • freezingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of freezing

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

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.

The U.A.E. is considering freezing Iranian assets and preparing to help open the Strait of Hormuz by force, The Wall Street Journal reported.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

In March our nights are still around 11 hours in length and so with clear skies, temperatures still have enough time to fall close to and below freezing to bring some frosty mornings.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

The themes of the debasement trade, the store of value, central banks’ accumulation and the diversification of reserves in the aftermath of the freezing of Russian assets in 2022 are all still applicable, he said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

In a new study, scientists at Northwestern University investigated how these small, wingless insects, which move across snowy surfaces to find mates and lay eggs, stay alive in freezing conditions.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

Inside was everything they needed to keep from freezing and starving to death: a sturdy tent, sleeping bags, flashlights, a first aid kit, a camping stove, and a pot to melt snow for water.

From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.