refrigerate

verb

re·​frig·​er·​ate ri-ˈfri-jə-ˌrāt 

refrigerated; refrigerating

transitive verb

: to make or keep cold or cool

specifically : to freeze or chill for preservation

foods that should be refrigerated

refrigeration

ri-ˌfri-jə-ˈrā-shən 

noun

Synonyms of refrigerate

• freeze
• chill
• cool

Examples of refrigerate in a Sentence

Refrigerate the mixture for an hour before serving.

refrigerate the cake after you frost it so that the frosting doesn't melt

Recent Examples on the Web

The burger mixture can be shaped ahead, covered tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerated overnight. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Without power, residents can’t refrigerate food or pump water. — Eugene Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Storing and Reheating This Soup Leftover potato leek soup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to four days. — Martha Stewart, 20 Sep. 2026

Why Sweet Tea Needs To Be Refrigerated Whether your iced tea is sweetened or unsweetened, it must absolutely be refrigerated. — Natalia Vela, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin refrigeratus, past participle of refrigerare, from re- + frigerare to cool, from frigor-, frigus cold — more at frigid

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for refrigerate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

refrigerate

verb

re·​frig·​er·​ate ri-ˈfrij-ə-ˌrāt 

refrigerated; refrigerating

: to make or keep cold or cool

especially : to freeze or chill food to preserve it

refrigeration

-ˌfrij-ə-ˈrā-shən 

noun