hibernates

verb

present tense third-person singular of hibernate
as in sleeps
to be in an inactive state bears hibernating in their dens

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hibernates The reptile, which hibernates individually in holes, burrows or rock crevices, prefers to live along ridgelines and bluffs, especially on south and southwest facing slopes. — Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hibernates
  1. sleeps
  2. rests
  3. plays
  4. dozes
  5. idles
Verb
  • Yarlington Lodge is a 12-acre estate that sleeps up to 32 guests and also features a Jacuzzi, a private movie theater, and a tennis court.
    — Mary Holland, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026
  • Like a guardian of the absolute desert, Chile’s coastal mountain range sleeps a mineral slumber, the bluffs defending the driest desert in the world.
    — Cristina Dorador, The Dial, 14 July 2026
Definition of sleeps
Verb
  • The economic argument for central bank independence rests on the idea that a politically motivated central bank might be tempted to exploit that short run tradeoff to juice the economy at the long run expense of price stability.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 July 2026
  • The whole economic model rests on most traders never getting there, and never getting paid.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • A lot of great actors are based around there, and there were others like Lubna Azabal who plays Julia Felix.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
  • Sean Clements Rated PG-13, 1 hour 43 minutes Johnson plays Dustin Boyd, whose laser-focused, hardass father Chuck (Ed Harris) trained him for tennis excellence from early childhood.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
Definition of plays
Verb
  • On some of my visits, Marsha dozes most of the time.
    — Marc Silver, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Rather, the protagonist dozes right through it.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of dozes
Verb
  • As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
  • Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025
Definition of idles

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Cite this Entry

“Hibernates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hibernates. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hibernates

Nglish: Translation of hibernates for Spanish Speakers

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