hibernate
Hibernate (verb) means For an animal to spend winter in a dormant, low-energy state. Example: “Bears hibernate through the coldest months of the year.”
How to use hibernate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go dormant for a long stretch — either an animal sleeping through winter, or a computer saving its state and powering down.
Word forms
hibernated past tense, hibernates singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Bears _____ through the coldest months of the year.
Etymology
From Latin "hibernatus," the past participle of "hiberno" ("to winter"), from "hibernus" meaning "wintry."
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for hibernate
See all rhymes for hibernate →Frequently asked questions
What does “hibernate” mean?
The word “hibernate” means for an animal to spend winter in a dormant, low-energy state. In plain terms, to go dormant for a long stretch — either an animal sleeping through winter, or a computer saving its state and powering down.
How do you pronounce “hibernate”?
“Hibernate” is pronounced HEYE-buh-nayt (/ˈhaɪbəɹˌneɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “hibernate” in a sentence?
Here is “hibernate” used in a sentence: “Bears hibernate through the coldest months of the year.”
What part of speech is “hibernate”?
“Hibernate” is a verb.
Where does the word “hibernate” come from?
The word “hibernate” comes from Latin. From Latin "hibernatus," the past participle of "hiberno" ("to winter"), from "hibernus" meaning "wintry.".
How many meanings does “hibernate” have?
“Hibernate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: for an animal to spend winter in a dormant, low-energy state.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include hibernate: