# wintering

/wˈɪntəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wintering
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

to spend the winter in a particular place, often somewhere warmer or safer. Birds do this when they fly south for the cold months.

For teachers: to spend the winter season in a particular location, especially to avoid harsh conditions. Typically describes migration of birds and animals, or seasonal relocation of people.

## Examples

- Many birds are wintering in the south this year.
- The geese are wintering on the lake behind our farm until spring returns.
- The swallows wintering along the southern coast will return north in April, guided by daylight and instinct honed over thousands of migrations.

## Usage notes

- Intransitive; typically followed by 'in' plus a place.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.