What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hibernate
Example
Bears hibernate during the winter months to conserve energy. [hibernate: verb]
Example
After a busy week, I like to hibernate at home and catch up on my reading. [hibernate: verb]
Example
My laptop has a hibernate mode that saves battery life when I'm not using it. [hibernate: noun]
sleep
Example
I need to sleep for at least eight hours to feel rested. [sleep: verb]
Example
I'm going to bed early tonight because I didn't get enough sleep last night. [sleep: noun]
Example
The baby is finally sleeping through the night. [sleeping: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sleep is much more commonly used than hibernate in everyday language. Sleep is a universal human experience that is essential for physical and mental health, while hibernate is a specialized term used mainly in biology and ecology.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between hibernate and sleep?
Hibernate is a more formal term than sleep, which is used in both formal and informal contexts. Hibernate is mainly used in technical or scientific writing, while sleep is used in a wide range of contexts, from casual conversation to academic writing.
