1
: a sweet flavored usually creamy mixture used to coat baked goods (such as cupcakes)
called also frosting
2
: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event
—often used in the phrase icing on the cake
: an illegal act by an ice hockey player of shooting a puck from within the defensive zone or defensive half of the rink beyond the opponents' goal line but not into the goal
Examples of icing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
East-central South Dakota and parts of southwestern Minnesota may see significant icing, with freezing rain accumulations of a quarter to half an inch on elevated surfaces like power lines and trees.
—Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 1 Apr. 2026
Ben spends the afternoon buttering up Ellie and praising her cake-icing skills, and even gives her the task of decorating the wedding cake.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Colton Cowser enjoys the Oreo-less pancake loaded with Oreos and cream cheese icing.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for icing
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Noun
Meanwhile, the warmer eastern flank of the system will bring significant icing across northern Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with ice accumulations up to a quarter of an inch or more.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
East-central South Dakota and parts of southwestern Minnesota may see significant icing, with freezing rain accumulations of a quarter to half an inch on elevated surfaces like power lines and trees.
—Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 1 Apr. 2026
Ben spends the afternoon buttering up Ellie and praising her cake-icing skills, and even gives her the task of decorating the wedding cake.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Colton Cowser enjoys the Oreo-less pancake loaded with Oreos and cream cheese icing.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for icing
Cite this Entry
“Icing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/icing. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
icing
1 of 2 noun
ic·ing
ˈī-siŋ 
1
: a sweet coating for baked goods (as cakes)
called also frosting
2
: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event
—often used in the phrase icing on the cake
icing
2 of 2 noun
: the shooting of a hockey puck the length of the rink and beyond the opponent's goal line
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