What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
thaw
Example
I need to thaw the chicken before cooking it. [thaw: verb]
Example
The snow is starting to thaw as the temperature rises. [thaw: verb]
Example
The relationship between the two countries began to thaw after years of tension. [thaw: verb]
unfreeze
Example
I had to call the bank to unfreeze my account. [unfreeze: verb]
Example
The gears in the machine were stuck, but we managed to unfreeze them. [unfreeze: verb]
Example
The company decided to unfreeze the hiring process after a period of budget cuts. [unfreeze: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Thaw is more commonly used than unfreeze in everyday language, especially in the context of food or weather. Unfreeze is more formal and specific to certain contexts, such as finance or business.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between thaw and unfreeze?
Unfreeze is generally more formal than thaw, and is often used in professional or technical contexts.
