refreeze

British  

/ riːˈfriːz /

verb

1. to freeze or be frozen again after having defrosted

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Explanation

To refreeze something is to freeze it — change it into ice — again. If it's going to get cold enough for the melting pond to refreeze, you could be ice skating again by the end of the week. Frozen water is called ice, which is water in its solid state. Ice starts to melt into liquid water when it's warmer than 32° F (0° C). It refreezes when the temperature drops back down below that. Similarly, when the power goes out long enough, foods in your freezer start to thaw. Those foods will refreeze when the power comes back on. But wait! It's not great to refreeze many foods. The quality and safety could be negatively affected. That's why many store-bought frozen foods say "Do not refreeze" on the package.

Example Sentences

It warned that melting snow and ice could fall from buildings without warning and that streets and pavements could refreeze overnight.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Temperatures fluctuated right around freezing day and night, causing a repeated thaw and refreeze that made sidewalks treacherous.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

This year, for the first time ever, the Arctic sea ice did not refreeze by late October.

From NewsForKids.net • Jan. 25, 2024

An agreement was reached between the U.S. and Qatar to refreeze the money.

From Washington Times • Oct. 23, 2023

The next day it gets warm again; the sodas thaw and run into the cloth booties and refreeze in the cloth.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen