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Definition of overwinter

overwinter

/ˌoʊvərˈwɪntər/
o · ver · win · ter
Past Simple:overwintered
•
Past Participle:overwintered
•
Present Participle:overwintering
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overwinter Lexical Profile

overwinter Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To live through or spend the winter in a particular place or state (especially of animals, insects, or plants).

Example

"Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles south to overwinter in the warm mountain forests of central Mexico."

2

To keep, shelter, or care for plants or livestock throughout the winter season.

Example

"Gardeners in cold climates often bring potted geraniums indoors to overwinter them until spring."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for overwinter
Antonyms
View all antonyms for overwinter

• Rhymes for overwinter

• Nearby Words

overwhelm
overwhelming
overwhelmingly
overwinter
overwork
overworked
overwrite

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English oferwintran ('to get through the winter'), formed from the prefix ofer- ('over, through') and winter.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Overwinter. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/overwinter
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