Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hibernate

/ˈhaɪbəɹˌneɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.70 in modern English

Syllables: hi-ber-nate
IPA: /ˈhaɪbəɹˌneɪt/

14

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To spend the winter in a dormant or inactive state of minimal activity, low body temperature, slow breathing and heart rate, and low metabolic rate; to go through a winter sleep.

Intransitive verb

verb

To live in seclusion.

Intransitive verb

verb

To enter a standby state which conserves power without losing the contents of memory.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"Hedgehogs and bears are two of the many mammals that hibernate in winter."
"Organisms have developed all sorts of ways of dealing with these variations. They hibernate or estivate or migrate."
"Your computer hibernates after it has been idle for the specified amount of time."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin hībernātus, perfect passive participle of hībernō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from hībernus (“wintry”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *ǵʰey-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈhaɪbəɹˌneɪt/
British English: /ˈhaɪbə(r)ˌneɪt/

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

hibernates (present, singular) hibernating (participle, present) hibernated (participle, past) hibernated (past) hivernate (alternative) hybernate (alternative)

Derived Forms

nonhibernating

Frequently Paired Words

hibernacle hibernaculum hibernal hibernation hibernator oversummer overwinter estivate

Synonyms

hole up

Questions

How do you pronounce hibernate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈhaɪbəɹˌneɪt/.
What does hibernate mean?: To spend the winter in a dormant or inactive state of minimal activity, low body temperature, slow breathing and heart rate, and low metabolic rate; to go through a winter sleep.
Where does hibernate come from?: Borrowed from Latin hībernātus, perfect passive participle of hībernō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from hībernus (“wintry”).

How to pronounce hibernate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “hibernate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈhaɪbəɹˌneɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “hibernate”.
Repeat and practice — Say “hibernate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.