hibernate
verb
hi·ber·nate
| \ ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt
\
\
hibernated;
hibernating
Definition of hibernate
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
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Other Words from hibernate
hibernation
\ ˌhī-bər-ˈnā-shən
\
noun
\
noun
hibernator
\ ˈhī-bər-ˌnā-tər
\
noun
\
noun
Examples of hibernate in a Sentence
bears hibernating in their dens
Recent Examples on the Web
Shedding is natural after your hair has been hibernating for awhile. — Essence, "4 Steps To Restoring Your Hair After a Protective Style," 3 Sep. 2019 In order for that to happen, Sam Rayburn needs to rediscover an offense, an offense that has been hibernating for the last two years. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "Pasadena ISD football programs knocking on door to victory milestone and the quest starts this weekend," 28 Aug. 2019 Delivered to your inbox on Wednesday and Friday Ground squirrels will hibernate in the colder days of winter, but the youngsters usually stay awake. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Uh oh. Ground squirrels have moved into a Fremont yard," 28 Aug. 2019 There's no better time to plan trips or plan family get-togethers, and those of us who tend to hibernate during the winter have the perfect excuse to bust out some cute clothes and hit the town. — Shayna Murphy, USA TODAY, "The 7 best deals you can get this Tuesday," 9 July 2019 Heavy rainfall last summer sent many crabs farther south to hibernate in search of optimal salinity levels, said Allison Colden, a Maryland fisheries scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, "Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population is doing well heading into the Fourth of July, report says," 3 July 2019 The young are born with fangs and venom and may even feed before hibernating for the winter. — National Geographic, "Copperheads," 22 July 2019 This type of tissue was thought, in the past, to only exist in hibernating mammals and babies, the university said. — Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, "Coffee could help you burn fat, new study says," 24 June 2019 The rest of the Cavaliers, in kind, hibernated on their laurels. — Jake Fischer, SI.com, "How David Griffin Rebuilt the Pelicans and His World," 1 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hibernate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for hibernate
hibernate
verb
English Language Learners Definition of hibernate
of an animal
: to spend the winter sleeping or resting
See the full definition for hibernate in the English Language Learners Dictionary
hibernate
verb
hi·ber·nate
| \ ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt
\
\
hibernated;
hibernating
Kids Definition of hibernate
: to pass all or part of the winter in an inactive state in which the body temperature drops and breathing slows
hibernate
intransitive verb
hi·ber·nate
| \ ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt
\
\
hibernated;
hibernating
Medical Definition of hibernate
: 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
Other Words from hibernate
hibernation
\ ˌhī-bər-ˈnā-shən
\
noun
\
noun
hibernator
\ ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt-ər
\
noun
\
noun
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