hibernate
verb (used without object)
to spend the winter in close quarters in a dormant condition, as bears and certain other animals.
has been hibernating
-
present perfect progressiveof hibernate (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Sleeping Giant of a football program has been hibernating for so long that no one can be certain it’s still hibernating.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025
We might well celebrate men’s recognition that birth control shouldn’t be only a woman’s concern, but one can’t help wondering where all this nobility has been hibernating the past 50 years.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 28, 2021
All of which could set the scene for a dramatic renaissance staged by Golden State, which has been hibernating through the pandemic as Klay Thompson works through a series of catastrophic injuries.
From New York Times ● Oct. 18, 2021
This week, instead of sitting with the California delegation in Milwaukee, Ms. Wyman has been hibernating in her Los Angeles home, relegated to watching the spectacle on TV in her den.
From New York Times ● Aug. 19, 2020
