1 A2 neutral
To allow frozen food or another frozen substance to return to a normal temperature.
"Remember to take the chicken out of the freezer to thaw out before cooking."
separable
thaw out
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To become unfrozen, or to cause something frozen to return to a normal temperature; also to become more relaxed and friendly.
In plain English
To make something frozen go back to normal temperature — like taking meat out of the freezer to defrost — or to become less cold and unfriendly.
What does "thaw out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 informal
To warm up after being very cold.
"Come in and sit by the fire — you need to thaw out after that walk."
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To become more relaxed, friendly, or open after being cold or reserved.
"He was very stiff at first, but he began to thaw out after a couple of drinks."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For ice or frozen material to melt or warm back to an unfrozen state.
Actually means
To make something frozen go back to normal temperature — like taking meat out of the freezer to defrost — or to become less cold and unfriendly.
Usage tip
Used both literally (food, pipes, weather) and figuratively (a person becoming friendlier or more relaxed). Very common in everyday speech. The figurative sense is natural but less frequent than the literal one.
Words that pair with "thaw out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
meat pipes frozen food ground relationship person
How to conjugate "thaw out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
thaw out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
thaws out
he/she/it
Past simple
thawed out
yesterday
Past participle
thawed out
have + pp
-ing form
thawing out
continuous
Hear "thaw out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "thaw out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "thaw out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.