Meaning of hibernate in English

1. Pronunciation

   /ˈhaɪbərˌneɪt/

   US accent

   How to pronounce hibernate in American English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

   UK accent

   How to pronounce hibernate in British English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

1. Verb

   hibernate

   Etymology

   early 19th century (earlier (mid 17th century) as hibernation): from Latin hibernare, from hiberna‘winter quarters’, from hibernus‘wintry’

   Definitions

   1. sleep during winter

   Examples

   • « Bears must eat a lot of food before they hibernate in their caves »

   Antonyms

   • estivate
   • aestivate
   • estivate
   • aestivate
2. 2. be in an inactive or dormant state