hibernate

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verb hi·ber·nate \ ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt \

Definition of hibernate

hibernated; hibernating

intransitive verb

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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hibernation

play \ˌhī-bər-ˈnā-shən\ noun

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hibernator

play \ˈhī-bər-ˌnā-tər\ noun

See hibernate defined for English-language learners

See hibernate defined for kids

Examples of hibernate in a Sentence

bears hibernating in their dens

Recent Examples of hibernate from the Web

Instead of hibernating during winter, most residents can be found enjoying the peninsula’s jaw-dropping beauty 365 days out of the year, regardless of the temperatures.

— claire volkman, Vogue, "A Guide to Newfoundland: A Rugged, Remote Foodie Haven," 30 Aug. 2017
Those hardy guys survived without hibernating all winter, clinging to spruce trees and eating their needles and bark, which are toxic to most other organisms.

— ned rozell, Alaska Dispatch News, "Outside Valdez, the mountains are full of snow — and filling with birds," 22 July 2017
Bats that live in urban areas hibernate in buildings, so they typically aren't affected by the dangerous fungus, which grows in caves.

— john wisely, Detroit Free Press, "Why 250 bats just moved into downtown Pontiac," 29 June 2017
The Washington tree, which hibernates over the winter, has garnered more than 80,000 messages over the past decade.

— lucy harvey, Smithsonian, "The Long and Winding Road of Yoko Ono’s Art," 17 June 2017
The flies overwinter inside our of homes, hibernating in the walls, ceilings and crawl spaces.

— joan morris, The Mercury News, "This wren’s nest might be difficult to empty," 8 June 2017
White-nose is caused by a fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans or Pd, and spreads easily among hibernating bats in winter.

— dennis pillion, AL.com, "Dreaded white-nose syndrome confirmed in another species of bat in Alabama," 1 June 2017
The inland bear is portrayed inside a cave or den, although polar bears most likely never hibernated in Iceland.

— michael engelhard, Smithsonian, "How Polar Bears Became the Dragons of the North," 31 May 2017
Polar bears don’t hibernate, but pregnant females create maternity dens to shelter newborn cubs.

— dan joling, The Denver Post, "Oil company watches over pregnant polar bear under bridge," 20 May 2017

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of hibernate

Latin hibernatus, past participle of hibernare to pass the winter, from hibernus of winter; akin to Latin hiems winter, Greek cheimōn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1816

See Words from the same year

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

HIBERNATE Defined for English Language Learners

hibernate

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verb

Definition of hibernate for English Language Learners

of an animal : to spend the winter sleeping or resting

HIBERNATE Defined for Kids

hibernate

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verb hi·ber·nate \ ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt \

Definition of hibernate for Students

hibernated; hibernating

:to pass all or part of the winter in an inactive state in which the body temperature drops and breathing slows

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hibernator

\-ˌnāt-ər\ noun

Medical Dictionary

hibernate

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intransitive verb hi·ber·nate \ ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt \

medical Definition of hibernate

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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