hibernate

American  

[hahy-ber-neyt] / ˈhaɪ bərˌneɪt /

verb (used without object)

hibernated, hibernating

1. Zoology. to spend the winter in close quarters in a dormant condition, as bears and certain other animals.

2. to withdraw or be in seclusion; retire.

3. to winter in a place with a milder climate.

   Each winter finds us hibernating in Florida.

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hibernate British  

/ ˈhaɪbəˌneɪt /

verb

1. (of some mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) to pass the winter in a dormant condition with metabolism greatly slowed down Compare aestivate

2. to cease from activity

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Other Word Forms

• hibernation
  noun
• hibernator
  noun
• posthibernation
  adjective
• semihibernation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of hibernate

First recorded in 1795–1805, hibernate is from the Latin word hībernātus (past participle of hībernāre to spend the winter). See hibernal, -ate ¹

Explanation

To hibernate means to take a season-long snooze. When a bear crawls into a cave with a belly full of food ready to sleep through the cold winter, that bear is going to hibernate until spring. Animals that sleep through the winter, like bears, squirrels, rodents and even some rattlesnakes, are said to hibernate through the winter. This word can also be used to describe any kind of inactive or dormant state, especially for the purpose of getting rest. If you’ve had a tough week and you’re planning to shut down and hole up in your house for the weekend, you could say you’re going to hibernate this weekend.

Example Sentences

Hibernate does the same thing, but it saves these things to your hard drive instead of using your system's memory.

From Fox News • Oct. 3, 2021

Hibernate: to pass the winter in a dormant condition.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Hibernate, hī′bėr-nāt, v.i. to winter: to pass the winter in torpor: to live in seclusion.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Related Words

• hole up