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 cameras will then be turned off while the snakes are hibernating over the winter, with the live stream set to resume next spring.
—
Jack Guy, CNN, 17 July 2024
But even by the time that discovery was announced, WISE was hibernating, powered down after the spacecraft ran out of the frozen hydrogen that kept its sensitive detectors so superbly cold, just a handful of degrees above absolute zero.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 31 July 2024
The winter is for hibernating, resting, homemaking, napping, and taking it slow.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 27 May 2024
When an animal hibernates, its body temperature falls, its heart rate slows and its breath is more shallow, according to the World Animal Protection.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hibernate 
Jack Guy, CNN, 17 July 2024
But even by the time that discovery was announced, WISE was hibernating, powered down after the spacecraft ran out of the frozen hydrogen that kept its sensitive detectors so superbly cold, just a handful of degrees above absolute zero.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 31 July 2024
The winter is for hibernating, resting, homemaking, napping, and taking it slow.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 27 May 2024
When an animal hibernates, its body temperature falls, its heart rate slows and its breath is more shallow, according to the World Animal Protection.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hibernate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hibernate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Hibernate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hibernate. Accessed 8 Sep. 2024.
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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