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hibernate

[hahy-ber-neyt] / ˈhaɪ bərˌneɪt /
VERB
lie dormant; sleep through cold weather
Synonyms


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.

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Bug hotels provide a safe habitat for insects and small creatures to shelter, hibernate and nest.

From BBC Apr. 23, 2026

In September 2023, rain followed by Tropical Storm Hilary established conditions for breeding and the subsequent insect activity in a time when the mosquitoes typically begin to hibernate.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 27, 2026

It’s a time to hibernate, rest and nourish yourself in preparation for the year of parties ahead.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 15, 2026

The mechanisms animals use to hibernate or slow their metabolism during unfavorable seasonal conditions are similar to those used by resurrecting creatures, who are just rather more extreme about it.

From Salon Apr. 20, 2025

But the skrewts, it transpired, did not hibernate, and did not appreciate being forced into pillow-lined boxes and nailed in.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

Its full life cycle remains a mystery, but it probably includes a cyst stage that hibernates on the lake bottom until it’s triggered to divide and release new cells.

From Seattle Times Jul. 21, 2023

One of the largest toads native to North America and remarkably long-lived with a life span reaching 20 years, it hibernates underground for most of the year, resurfacing to breed around the summer monsoon rains.

From New York Times Mar. 20, 2022

Kay doesn't think Abersoch hibernates in the autumn and winter, but admits the school's closure would be "another stab".

From BBC Nov. 13, 2021

A white dwarf star gathers hydrogen from its neighbor for 100,000 years, erupts, hibernates, goes through a dwarf-nova stage — and does it all over again, possibly for a billion years.

From Washington Post Aug. 30, 2017

Come summer he gets dozy and hibernates through to autumn, and I can speak a bit better.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

The glove maker’s plant utilization rates are above 96%, excluding hibernated plants, he notes.

From The Wall Street Journal May 6, 2026

"Blue-tongued skinks hibernated under the garage and at night blue-banded and teddy-bear bees slept in the hedges under the front window," Dr Holden said.

From Science Daily Dec. 8, 2023

Aristotle thought that some birds such as swallows hibernated in the colder months and that others transformed into different species—redstarts turned into robins for the winter, he proposed.

From Scientific American Mar. 15, 2022

“I knew there were people who hibernated between the finals and the start of the NFL regular season. I knew that there was a void in the industry and we can fill it.”

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 21, 2018

“I haven’t hibernated in three years. I’m ragged from it. Him too.”

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

The fungus invades the skin tissue of hibernating bats and causes them to wake too often or too early during winter, depleting their precious fat stores when there’s scant food.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 31, 2024

"Minimizing disturbance to bats when they are hibernating or raising young is critical," Loeb said.

From Salon Jul. 30, 2024

Cook: This spicy, smoky chili is perfect after a long day skiing — or hibernating.

From New York Times Feb. 12, 2024

They found thousands of genes were expressed rhythmically in hibernating bear cells.

From Science Daily Nov. 16, 2023

“I looked in on them about ten minutes ago, Father. They’re both sleeping like hibernating squirrels. It’s not likely that they’ll wake until evening.”

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques




Vocabulary lists containing hibernate


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