Irregular verb
The verb to freeze
freeze → froze → frozen
B1Meaning: to become ice; to make food very cold · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they freeze·he/she/it freezes - Past Simple:
froze - Past participle:
frozen(different from the Past Simple) - -ing form:
freezing
Conjugation of the verb to freeze
Present Simple
| I | freeze |
| You | freeze |
| He / She / It | freezes |
| We | freeze |
| You (pl.) | freeze |
| They | freeze |
Past Simple
| I | froze |
| You | froze |
| He / She / It | froze |
| We | froze |
| You (pl.) | froze |
| They | froze |
All the forms of the verb to freeze
Present Simple
Full pagefreeze / freezes
“Water freezes at 0°C.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are freezing
“I am freezing the bread right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagefroze
“The lake froze last winter.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were freezing
“I was freezing the bread when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has frozen
“I have already frozen the bread.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad frozen
“She had already frozen the bread when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill freeze
“I will freeze the bread tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to freeze
“I'm going to freeze the bread this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould freeze
“I would freeze the bread if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to freeze
1. Freezing (water, a lake, pipes)
- Water freezes at 0°C.
- My pipes froze last night.
2. Freezing food
Here, freeze means to put food in the freezer so that it keeps for a long time.
- You can freeze this meat.
- I froze the leftovers.
3. Feeling very cold
I'm freezing! means I am very, very cold.
- I'm freezing! Turn up the heat!
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Freezer ≠ fridge
Freeze + -er = freezer: the machine that keeps food frozen. Don't mix it up with fridge, which keeps food cold but not frozen.
2. Freezing = very cold
Freezing can be an adjective that means very, very cold. It's freezing outside!
What's next?
You can conjugate to freeze. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of freeze?+
The Past Simple of freeze is froze. The past participle is frozen. Freeze → froze → frozen.
What does I'm freezing mean?+
I'm freezing means I am very, very cold. It is stronger than I'm cold. It's freezing outside means it is very cold outside.
What does frozen mean?+
Yes, frozen is also an adjective: very cold and hard, like ice. Frozen food is food that you keep in the freezer. A frozen lake is a lake covered with ice. Frozen is also the name of a famous Disney film.
What is the difference between a freezer and a fridge?+
A freezer (from freeze + -er) keeps food frozen, below 0°C. A fridge keeps food cold, but not frozen. My freezer is full of ice cream.
Is it froze or freezed?+
Always froze. Freeze is irregular, like choose → chose. Its Past Simple is froze and its past participle is frozen. Never freezed.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/freeze
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.