Block vs Freeze his bank accounts

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Block

Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun

Freeze his bank accounts

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Block
 BlockFreeze his bank accounts
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/blɒk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/blɑːk/"]/🇬🇧 //friːz hɪz bæŋk əˈkaʊnts//🇺🇸 //friz hɪz bæŋk əˈkaʊnts//
MeaningTo stop something from happening or to make it impossible to pass.Stop someone from using their money.
ExampleHe threw a block of wood into the fire.The authorities decided to freeze his bank accounts after the investigation.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsbig, huge, large, on the chopping block, high-rise, tower, tenement, in a/​the block, block of, city, around the block, round the block, block from, city, around the block, round the block, block from, mental, writer’s, experience, have, suffer from, big, huge, large, on the chopping blockfreeze assets, freeze payments, freeze funds
Antonymsallow, permit, facilitate-
Common mistakesConfused with 'block' as a noun vs. verb., Using 'block' with the wrong prepositions., Saying 'blocked by' instead of 'blocked from'.Confusing with simply 'block', which has a different meaning., Using 'freez' instead of 'freeze'., Not understanding it refers specifically to bank accounts or assets.
Usage notesUse 'block' when referring to stopping something physically or metaphorically. It's appropriate in both everyday and formal contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations.Used in formal financial or legal contexts. Inappropriate for casual conversations.

See it in real clips

Block
Freeze his bank accounts

Frequently asked questions: Block vs Freeze his bank accounts

What's the difference between Block and Freeze his bank accounts?

Block: To stop something from happening or to make it impossible to pass. Freeze his bank accounts: Stop someone from using their money.

Which is more common: Block and Freeze his bank accounts?

Block is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Block: He threw a block of wood into the fire. Freeze his bank accounts: The authorities decided to freeze his bank accounts after the investigation.

Can I use Block and Freeze his bank accounts interchangeably?

Not always. Block and Freeze his bank accounts are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons