Meaning & use

freeze

verb·Everyday

To become solid because of low temperature, or to stop moving suddenly.

See it in a sentence

The pond will freeze completely if the temperature stays below zero all week.

The deer froze in the middle of the road when the headlights hit it.

A note on using this word

"Freeze" also describes stopping change deliberately, as in "the company froze all hiring this quarter."

Words with a similar meaning

solidifystop

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

meltthaw

Another way to use it

2. noun

A period during which prices, wages, or activity are officially kept from changing.

The government announced a freeze on public sector salaries for the coming year.

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