rabbit
RA-biht
Rabbit (noun) means a small, long-eared mammal known for its fast breeding and hopping movement. Example: “The rabbit twitched its nose and nibbled a piece of fresh carrot.”
noun
1
A small, long-eared mammal known for its fast breeding and hopping movement.
"The rabbit twitched its nose and nibbled a piece of fresh carrot."
"A wild rabbit darted across the garden at dusk."
"They kept two pet rabbits in a hutch out back."
2
A runner in a race whose job is to set a fast early pace for a teammate or rival, without trying to win themselves.
"The coach hired a rabbit to help her star runner reach a quick pace."
"Being the rabbit means you run hard early and then step aside."
"The rabbit dropped out after the first two laps, having done her job."
verb
1
To talk on and on, often about nothing important.
"My aunt rabbits on for hours whenever she phones, and I just listen."
"Stop rabbiting about the weather and tell us what actually happened."
"He kept rabbiting on about his holiday until we changed the subject."
How to use rabbit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe familiar long-eared animal, though the word is also used for a pacesetting runner or, as a verb, for talking too much.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
rabbit hole
rabbit on about
pet rabbit
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Word forms
- Plural
- rabbits
- Third person singular
- rabbits
- Past tense
- rabbited, rabbitted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ twitched its nose and nibbled a piece of fresh carrot.
Etymology
Entered English from Old French/Middle Dutch roots in the late Middle Ages, originally meaning specifically a young rabbit; it replaced the older word "cony" once that word became a crude euphemism.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for rabbit
See all rhymes for rabbit →Frequently asked questions
What does “rabbit” mean?
The word “rabbit” means a small, long-eared mammal known for its fast breeding and hopping movement. In plain terms, the familiar long-eared animal, though the word is also used for a pacesetting runner or, as a verb, for talking too much.
How do you pronounce “rabbit”?
“Rabbit” is pronounced RA-biht (/ˈɹæbɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “rabbit” in a sentence?
Here is “rabbit” used in a sentence: “A wild rabbit darted across the garden at dusk.”
What is another word for “rabbit”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rabbit” include bunny, bunny rabbit, coney and cony.
What part of speech is “rabbit”?
Depending on how it is used, “rabbit” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “rabbit” come from?
The word “rabbit” comes from Old French. Entered English from Old French/Middle Dutch roots in the late Middle Ages, originally meaning specifically a young rabbit; it replaced the older word "cony" once that word became a crude euphemism.
Is “rabbit” a common word?
“Rabbit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “rabbit” have?
“Rabbit” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, long-eared mammal known for its fast breeding and hopping movement.
What is the difference between a rabbit and a hare?
Rabbits and hares are related long-eared mammals, but hares are generally larger, with longer ears and legs, and their young are born fully furred with open eyes. Rabbits typically shelter in burrows and give birth to blind, hairless young, and they are the species most often kept as pets.
What is a rabbit in running?
In athletics, a rabbit is a runner whose job is to set a fast early pace for a teammate or rival rather than to win the race. Race organizers use rabbits, also called pacemakers, to pull the field through quick early laps in record attempts.
What is the difference between a rabbit and a bunny?
They are the same animal: bunny is simply an informal, affectionate word for a rabbit, used especially by and with children. Rabbit is the standard term you would use in neutral or formal contexts.
