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jackrabbit

American  
[jak-rab-it] / ˈdʒækˌræb ɪt /

adjective

  1. resembling a jack rabbit, as in suddenness or rapidity of movement.

    The car made a jackrabbit start when the traffic light turned green.


verb (used without object)

  1. to go or start forward with a rapid, sudden movement.

Etymology

Origin of jackrabbit

First recorded in 1925–30; see origin at jack rabbit


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

We scared up a jackrabbit that loped off past blooming yarrow, then walked to within about 50 yards of his herd.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Coupling that with better in-town driving practices, such as slowing down ahead of the upcoming red light rather than racing to it, and avoiding jackrabbit starts results in more savings.

From Washington Post ● May 16, 2022

It features animals such as white-tailed deer, jackrabbit, alligator snapping turtle, lake sturgeon, blue jay and roseate spoonbill.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2021

He never was a jackrabbit and seems content with the hundreds of other ways that we show love.

From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2020

And now and then a great jackrabbit, disturbed in his shade, bumped away and hid behind the nearest rock.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck

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