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.
any of the larger species of this genus, as distinguished from certain of the smaller ones known as rabbits.
any of various similar animals of the same family.
Astronomy. Hare, the constellation Lepus.
the player pursued in the game of hare and hounds.
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)
informal to defeat someone completely
to be on good terms with both sides
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)
William. 19th century, Irish murderer and bodysnatcher: associate of William Burke
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.
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hara; cognate with Danish hare; akin to German Hase “hare,” Old English hasu “gray”
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.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The BBC contacted members of the Country Land and Business Association, which represents 30,000 rural landowners and businesses in England and Wales, to ask about their experiences with hare coursing.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Forbes calls that “the tortoise and hare approach.”
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
That motto, and the company’s approach, has led some to call Blue Origin the tortoise to SpaceX’s hare.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 2, 2026
The mammals are: the bottlenose dolphin, the brown hare, the European hedgehog, the grey seal, the pine martin and the red fox.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
At which point the hare stopped her stretching and proceeded to march back and forth, with her very long back feet alternately thrusting high in the air.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
Visiting The Hare pub in Harlow east of London, Burnham said the cut was a "first" but "important" step.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 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
But Jack Hare is preparing for another leap into the unknown on his unpredictable Quest!
From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2025
Hare says he expects earnings growth to start in the June quarter and, as 2026 progresses, year-over-year sales and earnings comparisons to improve.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2025
One morning, I decided to walk to town to save money and spotted a young lady who had been with me at Fort Hare.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
We began investigating this underworld for the BBC Radio 4 podcast Dead Rabbit after the bodies of dead hares and other animals were mysteriously dumped in two picturesque Hampshire villages in 2024.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
As Apple plays the tortoise role—slow and steady wins the race—the sprint between the two hares is what’s captivating investors.
From Barron's ● Nov. 26, 2025
Musk oxen and snowshoe hares inhabit the base perimeter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2025
The act banned the use of dogs to hunt wild mammals - including foxes, hares, deer and mink - across England and Wales.
From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2024
Finally the dogs can stand it no longer and they take off from the trail, chasing one of the hares, and I get a thrilling ride down a long hill.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
Hassan sprung to her feet, hared after the pack, made up 25 metres on them, and came through to win.
From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2022
But the tap down bounced kindly for Kelleher who hared to the tryline.
From Washington Times ● Feb. 14, 2021
He picked himself up and hared off in pursuit of Carapaz, bashing on his displaced left-brake lever as he descended, trying to hammer it back straight on his handlebars.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 17, 2020
Dickson reminds us that when Wen Jiabao, then China’s premier, came to England in 2011, he flew first to a small airport outside Birmingham and hared off to Stratford to pay homage.
From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2016
"Is the Sperret of William Tompkins present?" sed 1 of the long hared chaps, and there was three knox on the table.
From The Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 1: Essays, Sketches, and Letters by Ward, Artemus
Whether haring down a treacherous Tour de France descent, or bunny hopping up sandy terrain, multi-eventer Pidcock is filling the void left by Britain's millennial cycling superstars.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2024
Broady was haring in, sharing a few words, going chest to chest and wanting to show he was a top young player.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2023
Those jurors will be taken to Carroll County from that county for the trial, which is scheduled for March but unlikely to occur before the fall, Gull said at the haring.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 23, 2023
Of course, it is of that electrifying early-career Giggs haring up the left wing “like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind”, as Alex Ferguson so brilliantly described him.
From The Guardian ● May 22, 2020
Merlyn said, “I beg your pardon. I am not haring a very good day today, and there it is.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
