hibernation

American  

[hahy-ber-ney-shuhn] / ˌhaɪ bərˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

• hibernations
  plural

1. a state of winter dormancy in some animals, in which normal annual rhythms slow the heart, breathing, and metabolic rates to a minimum, and the animal sleeps deeply in protective quarters.

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hibernation Scientific  

/ hī′bər-nā′shən /

1. An inactive state resembling deep sleep in which certain animals living in cold climates pass the winter. In hibernation, the body temperature is lowered and breathing and heart rates slow down. Hibernation protects the animal from cold and reduces the need for food during the season when food is scarce.

2. Compare estivation

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hibernation Cultural  

1. Passing the winter in a sleeping or inactive condition. Bears, ground squirrels, woodchucks, and several other kinds of animals hibernate.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hibernations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hibernation

First recorded in 1680–90; hibernat(e) ( def. ) + -ion ( def. )

Explanation

Hibernation is a type of deep sleep some animals (like bears) go into during winter. Hibernation is like a long nap. Have you ever wanted to skip from fall to spring? Some animals do just that by hibernating, which is a sleep-like state during which their metabolism slows and they conserve energy. Animals who hibernate do nothing: hibernation is a time of rest and inactivity, almost like a coma. People also use this word for other types of inactivity. For example, you could talk about the hibernation of an athlete who has taken a year off from competition.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hibernation hibernations

They could come out of hibernation too early and not have any nectar to feed on, or conversely the flowers could come out before the bees appear.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

A record 13 people were killed by bears in Japan last year, and there has been a jump in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

As rising temperatures are shifting natural plant cycles, species that synchronise their migration or hibernation can be left without the flowers and plants they rely on – a phenomenon known as ecological mismatch.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026

The humble tomato, beloved by many yet scorned by some, slowly awakens from hibernation, reminding us that warm weather, spent indulging in fresh salads and produce-filled sandwiches, is almost here.

From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2026

“Like hibernation, or a coma. One seed can sustain him one day, barely.”

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

But off-schedule springs can have devastating ecological impacts, from pollinators missing the flowers they usually visit to an increase in conflicts between humans and animals as hibernations are cut short.

From Scientific American ● Mar. 22, 2023

“Just like caterpillars and butterflies are different stages of development” of one organism, Shara said, the hibernations and eruptions of these binary star systems are cyclical.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 30, 2017

But it may not be the only one: many go through periods of fasting — during hibernations or migrations, for example — and must carefully ration internal energy stores in order to survive.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 24, 2013

Spring is when road workers emerge from their winter hibernations, and orange traffic cones pop up like yellow daffodils.

From New York Times ● May 24, 2010

Even hibernations can be overdone, come to think of it.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Related Words

• coma
• dream
• slumber
• trance