How to Use Froze or Frozen (Explained, With Examples)

What's the past tense of "freeze"?

The simple past tense of freeze is froze, and the past participle is frozen. Use froze for simple past and frozen with auxiliary verbs like "have" or "had".

👍🏼 Usage Note

✓ The lake froze solid last winter.

✓ The pipes have frozen due to the cold weather.

Verb forms of 'freeze'

The verb freeze, as described by Oxford Dictionary: "To become hard, and often turn to ice, as a result of extreme cold: water freezes at 0°C." Also, "If you freeze, you feel very cold: I'm freezing in here!"

Simple Continuous Perfect Conditional

Present:

I/you/they freeze • He/she/it freezes

Past:

I/you/he/she/it/they froze

Future:

I/you/he/she/it/they will freeze

Present:

I am freezing • You/they are freezing • He/she/it is freezing

Past:

I/he/she/it was freezing • You/they were freezing

Future:

I/you/he/she/it/they will be freezing

Present:

I/you/they have frozen • He/she/it has frozen

Past:

I/you/he/she/it/they had frozen

Future:

I/you/he/she/it/they will have frozen

Present:

I/you/he/she/it/they would freeze

Past:

I/you/he/she/it/they would have frozen

Similar irregular verbs

When to use froze vs. frozen

The lake froze solid last winter.

The pipes have frozen due to the cold weather.

Use froze for the simple past tense and frozen as the past participle with auxiliary verbs like "have," "has," or "had".

Sentence examples: freeze, froze, frozen

Present tense examples

Water freezes at 0°C (32°F).
I always freeze when I'm nervous.
The computer screen freezes when there's too much data.
They freeze the vegetables to preserve them.

Past tense examples

The lake froze solid last winter.
She froze in fear when she saw the spider.
The pipes froze during the cold snap.
He froze the meat before storing it.

Past participle examples

The pipes have frozen due to the cold weather.
She has frozen the leftovers for next week.
The pond had frozen overnight.
The computer has frozen again.

Synonyms for "freeze"

Synonyms: ice up, solidify, crystallize, harden, chill, refrigerate, preserve, stiffen, congeal, glaciate

FAQs

What type of verb is "freeze"?

"Freeze" is an irregular verb, which means it doesn't follow the standard -ed pattern for past tense formation.

Is "freezed" correct?

No, "freezed" is not correct. The past tense of "freeze" is "froze," not "freezed."

When do I use "frozen" vs "froze"?

Use "froze" for simple past tense (e.g., "The lake froze") and "frozen" as past participle with auxiliary verbs (e.g., "It has frozen").

Can "freeze" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "freeze" can mean to become motionless from fear or shock, or when computer systems stop responding.

Sources

"Freeze, V." Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, March 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1199038215.
Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of freeze." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/freeze. Accessed 14 January, 2023.