hibernate
verb
hi·ber·nate ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt 
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
hibernation
ˌhī-bər-ˈnā-shən
noun hibernator
ˈhī-bər-ˌnā-tər
noun 
Example Sentences
bears hibernating in their dens
Recent Examples on the Web Bats can hibernate in clusters, like a carpet of bats in a cave, and surveying 15 or 20 caves will give researchers a pretty good idea of the winter population. 
Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 5 July 2022 Spring has arrived at last, but Tesla bears might want to crawl back into their caves to hibernate some more. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2022 Some rodents and other animals hibernate on strict schedules governed by day length. Chris Woolston, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2022 By contrast, many species in the Southern Hemisphere would have been preparing to hibernate for the winter as opposed to gearing up for their reproduction cycles. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Feb. 2022 Still, Barnes wonders if humans will be able to hibernate someday. Jessica Wapner, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2022 This year, caretakers at the Birmingham Zoo say Birmingham Bill, who also goes by his full name Jamie Bill, will continue to hibernate through the holiday. Derenn Hollman, al, 2 Feb. 2022 Captive lemurs, however, receive an abundance of food all year, so the need to hibernate as a way to store energy is unnecessary, reports Clare Watson for Science Alert. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2021 These large lizards usually hibernate from the end of November through February. Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 21 Oct. 2021 See More
Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 5 July 2022 Spring has arrived at last, but Tesla bears might want to crawl back into their caves to hibernate some more. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2022 Some rodents and other animals hibernate on strict schedules governed by day length. Chris Woolston, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2022 By contrast, many species in the Southern Hemisphere would have been preparing to hibernate for the winter as opposed to gearing up for their reproduction cycles. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Feb. 2022 Still, Barnes wonders if humans will be able to hibernate someday. Jessica Wapner, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2022 This year, caretakers at the Birmingham Zoo say Birmingham Bill, who also goes by his full name Jamie Bill, will continue to hibernate through the holiday. Derenn Hollman, al, 2 Feb. 2022 Captive lemurs, however, receive an abundance of food all year, so the need to hibernate as a way to store energy is unnecessary, reports Clare Watson for Science Alert. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2021 These large lizards usually hibernate from the end of November through February. Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 21 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin hibernatus, past participle of hibernare to pass the winter, from hibernus of winter; akin to Latin hiems winter, Greek cheimōn
First Known Use
1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
hibernate
verb
hi·ber·nate ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt
hibernated; hibernating
: to pass all or part of the winter in an inactive state in which the body temperature drops and breathing slows
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
hibernating
verb
as in sleeping
to be in an inactive state bears hibernating in their dens Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sleeping
- resting
- dozing
- lounging
- chilling
- playing
- idling
- aestivating
- loafing
- lazing
- estivating
- lingering
- lazying
- dillydallying
- relaxing
- bumming
- dawdling
- messing
- monkeying
- lolling
- droning
- mucking
- poking
- fooling
- kicking back
- lagging
- piddling
- dallying
- loitering
- hanging about
- vegging out
- footling
- kicking around
- hacking (around)
- trifling
- goofing (off)
- tarrying
- hanging (around or out)
- malingering
- goldbricking
- pottering (around)
- fiddling (around)
- puttering (around)
- truanting
- furloughing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- working
- laboring
- sweating
- plugging
- toiling
- plowing
- humping
- grubbing
- plodding
- slaving
- hustling
- grinding
- applying
- pegging
- drudging
- buckling (down)
- moiling
- travailing
- exerting
- putting out