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• hare
  hare

  noun

  any rodentlike mammal of the genus Lepus, of the family Leporidae, having long ears, a divided upper lip, and long hind limbs adapted for leaping.
• Hare
  Hare

  noun

  Sir David. born 1947, British dramatist and theatre director: his plays include Plenty (1978), Pravda (with Howard Brenton, 1985), The Secret Rapture (1989), Racing Demon (1990), The Permanent Way (2003), and Stuff Happens (2004)

hare

American  

[hair] / hɛər /

noun

plural

hares,

plural

hare

1. any rodentlike mammal of the genus Lepus, of the family Leporidae, having long ears, a divided upper lip, and long hind limbs adapted for leaping.

2. any of the larger species of this genus, as distinguished from certain of the smaller ones known as rabbits.

3. any of various similar animals of the same family.

4. Astronomy. Hare, the constellation Lepus.

5. the player pursued in the game of hare and hounds.

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verb (used without object)

hared, haring

1. Chiefly British. to go, run, or proceed swiftly, suddenly, or impulsively; rush; speed; take off: The young forward instantly spotted the opportunity and hared in to put the ball into the net.

   What if someone came haring around the corner on a moped?

   The young forward instantly spotted the opportunity and hared in to put the ball into the net.

idioms

1. hare off, to change course or shift one’s attention suddenly or impulsively; veer off (often followed byafter ).

   Adhering to a challenging summer book list will keep me from haring off after every new beach read that catches my eye.

hare ¹ British  

/ hɛə /

noun

1. any solitary leporid mammal of the genus Lepus, such as L. europaeus ( European hare ). Hares are larger than rabbits, having longer ears and legs, and live in shallow nests (forms)

2. informal to defeat someone completely

3. to be on good terms with both sides

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verb

1. informal (intr; often foll by off, after, etc) to go or run fast or wildly

Hare ² British  

/ hɛə /

noun

1. Sir David. born 1947, British dramatist and theatre director: his plays include Plenty (1978), Pravda (with Howard Brenton, 1985), The Secret Rapture (1989), Racing Demon (1990), The Permanent Way (2003), and Stuff Happens (2004)

2. William. 19th century, Irish murderer and bodysnatcher: associate of William Burke

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Hare ³ British  

/ hɛə /

noun

1. a member of a Dene Native Canadian people of northern Canada

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hare More Idioms  

1. see mad as a hatter (March hare); run with (the hare).

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Usage

What’s the difference between hares and rabbits? Hares and rabbits are both rodentlike mammals in the Leporidae family, but they’re two different species. They look similar, with long ears and large hind legs that make them great jumpers and fast runners. One main difference is that hares are bigger than rabbits. They also appear much differently at birth. Hares are born furry, open-eyed, and ready to run. Rabbits, however, are born without fur and are unable to see at first. To protect their helpless kits or kittens (you can call them bunnies but that’s not a technical term), rabbits dig underground burrows. Hares, on the other hand, build shallow nests in the grass. So, the bigger it is, the more likely it is to be a hare. If it has a burrow underground, it’s a rabbit. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between hares and rabbits.

Other Word Forms

• harelike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hare

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hara; cognate with Danish hare; akin to German Hase “hare,” Old English hasu “gray”

Explanation

Hares are animals that are closely related to rabbits but larger, with longer ears and hind legs. Remember the overconfident animal that lost a race against a tortoise in Aesop's famous fable? That was a hare! Hares and rabbits look very similar, but they're completely different species. Rabbits burrow, while hares stay above ground and give birth in nests in the grass. Unlike rabbits, hares are furry when they're born and able to see and move around independently. Their diets are even different — rabbits like grasses and vegetables, while hares dine on twigs and bark. And while you can keep a rabbit as a pet, hares haven't been domesticated.

Example Sentences

David Hare, who directed Hurt in “The Secret Rapture,” described her as “a fine ensemble actress” to the New York Times in 1989.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

“She has the best of the English and the best of the American traditions,” Hare told the outlet.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Paul Hare, a former British ambassador to Cuba and Venezuela, argued that Cuban intelligence underestimated US access to "insider cooperation in Venezuela" -- an informant within Maduro's camp.

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

"It's very clear that we have never had a better chance to do this. It's also clear that we've never been in a worse situation," said Dr Bill Hare, from the Climate Action Tracker team.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2025

The graduation at Fort Hare offered a moment of introspection and reflection.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela