# rabbit

/ˈɹæbət/ (US) · /ɹˈæbɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rabbit
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR A1

a small animal with long ears, long back legs, and a soft, round tail.

For teachers: a burrowing, gregarious mammal of the family Leporidae, characterized by long ears and a short, tufted tail.

- A small brown rabbit hopped across the garden and disappeared into the bushes.
- The population of wild rabbits in the valley has increased significantly since the local predators moved further into the mountains.

### 3. pacesetter

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a runner who starts a race very fast to help others set a record.

For teachers: a runner or cyclist who leads the first part of a race to ensure a fast pace for a teammate or to break a record.

- The lead runner acted as a rabbit for the first three laps before dropping out.
- The world record attempt was facilitated by two professional rabbits who maintained a punishing pace for the first five thousand metres.

### 4. to talk a lot

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to talk for a long time about things that are not important.

For teachers: to talk incessantly or at length about trivial matters; often used with the particle 'on'.

- He started to rabbit on about his old car, and I couldn't get a word in.
- She has a tendency to rabbit on about her domestic troubles whenever we meet for a professional lunch.

Usage: Usually appears as the phrasal verb 'rabbit on'.

### 5. to run away

verb · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang

to run away quickly because of fear.

For teachers: to flee or depart hurriedly, often out of fear or to avoid capture.

- As soon as the police car turned the corner, the suspects started to rabbit.
- The witness claimed that the driver decided to rabbit the moment he saw the flashing lights in his rearview mirror.

## Examples

- A wild rabbit is eating grass in the garden.
- The children watched quietly as a small brown rabbit hopped across the lawn toward the bushes.
- Ecological studies in the region demonstrate how the introduction of a non-native rabbit population can lead to the rapid depletion of local vegetation and the subsequent erosion of topsoil.

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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.