# hare

/ˈhɛɹ/ (US) · /hˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hare
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR B2

a wild animal like a rabbit but larger, with very long ears and long back legs for running fast.

For teachers: a mammal of the genus Lepus, larger and swifter than a rabbit, with longer ears and hind legs.

- The dog tried to chase the hare, but the animal disappeared into the tall grass.
- Unlike rabbits, which retreat to burrows, the hare relies on its incredible speed and camouflage to evade predators in open fields.

### 3. to run fast

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to run or move very quickly, often in a hurry.

For teachers: to move at great speed; an intransitive verb often used with 'off' or 'down'.

- As soon as the bell rang, the children hared off toward the playground.
- The suspect hared down the narrow alleyway, successfully losing the police officers in the maze of backstreets.

### 4. game participant

noun · CEFR C2 · British English

in some traditional racing games, the person who starts first and leaves a trail for others to follow.

For teachers: the designated runner in a paperchase or 'hare and hounds' game who leaves a trail of paper for the 'hounds' to track.

- In the school game, Tom was chosen to be the hare and started laying the paper trail.
- The success of a paperchase depends on the hare's ability to create a challenging but followable path through the woods.

## Examples

- A wild hare ran across the open field.
- Unlike rabbits that live in underground burrows, the hare makes its nest in a small depression in the grass.
- The ancient fable of the tortoise and the hare serves as a timeless reminder that consistent effort often triumphs over erratic bursts of speed.

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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.