hibernate
verb
hi·ber·nate
ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt 
hibernated; hibernating
1
: to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state
bears hibernating in their dens
2
: to be or become inactive or dormant
let the computer hibernate
Examples of hibernate in a Sentence
bears hibernating in their dens
Recent Examples on the Web
The anonymous data gathered from our shopping stories shows that our readers also felt this tug-of-war between lofty aspirations and the urge to hibernate.
—
Venus Wong, refinery29.com, 7 Feb. 2025
Due to a lack of hedgehogs, settlers in the new world began to rely on the groundhog, another small hibernating mammal.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025
Until she’s asked to prolong her stay on board of a research vessel for a whole winter, as scientists study the first people ever known to hibernate.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025
For weeks at a time, hibernating ground squirrels significantly decrease their metabolic rate and nearly freeze.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hibernate
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Venus Wong, refinery29.com, 7 Feb. 2025
Due to a lack of hedgehogs, settlers in the new world began to rely on the groundhog, another small hibernating mammal.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025
Until she’s asked to prolong her stay on board of a research vessel for a whole winter, as scientists study the first people ever known to hibernate.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025
For weeks at a time, hibernating ground squirrels significantly decrease their metabolic rate and nearly freeze.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hibernate
Articles Related to hibernate
Cite this Entry
“Hibernate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hibernate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hibernate
verb
hi·ber·nate
ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt
hibernated; hibernating
: to pass the winter in a sleeping or resting state
Medical Definition
hibernate
intransitive verb
hi·ber·nate
ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt
hibernated; hibernating
: to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state
especially
: to pass the winter in a torpid condition in which the body temperature drops to a little above freezing and metabolic activity is reduced nearly to zero compare estivate
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