freeze
B1Neutral (used across formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
to become solid and hard, especially because of cold temperatures; to stop moving or functioning suddenly.
To preserve by extreme cold; to fix (prices, wages, assets) at a certain level; to stop a video or film on a single frame; to become motionless or rigid with fear, shock, or surprise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is irregular: freeze - froze - frozen. The noun form (a freeze) refers to a period of freezing weather, a stopping of movement/activity, or a fixed state (e.g., wage freeze).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling in derived forms: UK 'freezable' vs US 'freezable' (same). No significant usage differences.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SV (The lake freezes)SV+A (It freezes in winter)SVO (Freeze the leftovers)SVOA (Freeze the meat quickly)SVCs (He froze solid)SV+A (She froze in terror)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “freeze someone out (exclude)”
- “freeze over (become ice-covered)”
- “freeze up (stop working from cold/fear)”
- “when hell freezes over (never)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To officially fix prices, wages, or assets so they cannot be changed or accessed (e.g., 'The government decided to freeze interest rates').
Academic
Used in scientific contexts regarding phase changes (e.g., 'Water will freeze at 0°C under standard pressure').
Everyday
Refers to weather, food preservation, or a sudden stop in movement (e.g., 'Don't forget to freeze the soup', 'I froze when I saw the spider').
Technical
In computing: a temporary halt in a program's execution; in film/TV: to pause an image.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The pipes might freeze if the heating fails.
- The bank can freeze your account if fraud is suspected.
American English
- Be careful, the sidewalk can freeze overnight.
- The video game console froze during the update.
adjective
British English
- We're selling off our freeze-dried camping meals.
- The freeze frame showed the exact moment of impact.
American English
- The freeze-dried coffee just needs hot water.
- Check the freeze plug on the engine block.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Water turns to ice when it freezes.
- It's so cold outside, I'm freezing!
- If you freeze the dough, you can bake it later.
- He froze when he heard a strange noise.
- The government imposed a freeze on public sector pay.
- The software tends to freeze if too many programs are running.
- Diplomatic relations between the two nations have been effectively frozen for a decade.
- The sudden liquidity crisis forced the central bank to freeze asset sales.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'FREEze' - you want to be 'FREE' from the 'ZE'ro-degree cold that makes things solid.
Conceptual Metaphor
STOPPING IS FREEZING (e.g., freeze negotiations); LACK OF EMOTION/EMPATHY IS COLD (e.g., a freezing stare); FINANCIAL/LEGAL RESTRICTION IS FREEZING (e.g., frozen assets).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'freeze' (мёрзнуть, замораживать) with 'fry' (жарить).
- The noun 'freeze' (as in 'a freeze on hiring') is often better translated as 'заморозка', 'приостановка', not a direct cognate of the verb.
- 'Freeze!' as a command is 'Не двигайся!' or 'Стоять!', not a translation of the physical process.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past participle: 'It has froze' (correct: 'It has frozen').
- Confusing 'freeze' (intransitive) with 'freeze something' (transitive): 'I will freeze the lake' (implies you cause it) vs 'The lake will freeze' (it happens naturally).
Practice
Quiz
In a financial context, what does it mean to 'freeze assets'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Freeze' refers to the process of becoming solid ice. 'Frost' is a thin, white layer of ice crystals that forms on surfaces from frozen water vapour.
Yes, figuratively. It can mean to become suddenly motionless from fear or surprise ('He froze in his tracks'), or to feel very cold ('I'm freezing').
No. The past tense is 'froze', and the past participle is 'frozen'. 'Freezed' is a common error.
It means a surface (like a lake or pond) becomes completely covered with ice.
Explore