What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hibernating
Example
Bears hibernate during the winter months. [hibernate: verb]
Example
After a long day at work, I like to hibernate in my room and watch movies. [hibernate: verb]
dormant
Example
The volcano has been dormant for many years. [dormant: adjective]
Example
The company's social media account has been dormant for months. [dormant: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dormant is more commonly used than hibernating in everyday language. Dormant is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hibernating is more specific and less commonly used.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hibernating and dormant?
Both hibernating and dormant are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
