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
Their quarry was skunks that were fast asleep, hibernating in their underground burrows.
—
Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Groundhogs start hibernating in late autumn, before briefly emerging from their burrows in February to search for a mate.
—Rachel Dobkin, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy After being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, all one heartbroken woman wants to do is hibernate through the holidays.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
Yet unlike a human athlete, the hibernating mammals drinking up their squirrel ‘Gatorade’ didn’t also seem to crave water.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hibernate 
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Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Groundhogs start hibernating in late autumn, before briefly emerging from their burrows in February to search for a mate.
—Rachel Dobkin, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy After being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, all one heartbroken woman wants to do is hibernate through the holidays.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
Yet unlike a human athlete, the hibernating mammals drinking up their squirrel ‘Gatorade’ didn’t also seem to crave water.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hibernate
Articles Related to hibernate
Dictionary Entries Near hibernate
Cite this Entry
“Hibernate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hibernate. Accessed 13 Feb. 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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