hare
gb/hˈɛɹ/ us/hˈɛɹ/
B1
English
~ 8300
mezei nyúl, rohan, elrohan, rohangál
NOUN
B1
1
mezei nyúl
B1
We saw a hare sprint across the field and disappear into the tall grass.
Láttuk, ahogy egy mezei nyúl átrohant a mezőn, és eltűnt a magas fűben.
The brown hare is becoming less common in some parts of the country.
A mezei nyúl az ország egyes részein egyre ritkább.
Hares rely on their speed and sharp hearing to escape foxes and other predators.
In winter, the mountain hare’s fur turns white to match the snow.
The study showed a sharp decline in the local hare population over the last decade.
Learner examples
A hare ran across the road in front of our car.
Egy mezei nyúl futott át az úton az autónk előtt.
The dog chased a hare in the field.
A kutya egy mezei nyulat üldözött a mezőn.
Hares have very long ears and strong back legs.
We read a story about a hare and a tortoise in class.
There are not many hares in this area now.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse the spelling of "hare" with "hair" (the stuff that grows on your head). "Hare" is an animal, while "hair" is what covers your head and body. Learners may also call every similar animal a "rabbit"; use "hare" when talking about the larger, wild animal that lives above ground in fields.
Meaning
a fast-running wild animal
Collocations
wild hare
|brown hare
|mountain hare
|snowshoe hare
|hunt hares
|hare population
Synonyms
rabbit (Similar animal and often used in casual speech, but a rabbit is usually smaller, digs burrows, and can be a pet or farm animal, while a hare is wild and larger.)
Antonyms
predator (In nature writing, a hare is prey and a predator (like a fox) is its opposite in the food chain.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A wild animal like a large rabbit, with very long ears and legs, that runs very fast and lives in open fields.
A fast-running wild mammal related to the rabbit, with long ears and legs, that lives in open fields and does not usually dig burrows.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to hare [adverb] / to hare [adverb] [to/from place]
She suddenly hares off down the street as soon as she sees the bus coming.
Hirtelen végigrohan az utcán, amint meglátja, hogy jön a busz.
The kids spent the afternoon haring around the park, shouting and laughing.
A gyerekek a délutánt azzal töltötték, hogy a parkban rohangáltak, kiabáltak és nevettek.
He hared back to the office when he realized he had left his laptop behind.
A cyclist came haring past us without warning.
Don’t just hare off; sit down and think about it first.
Learner examples
He hared off when he heard his name.
Elrohant, amikor meghallotta a nevét.
The children are haring around the garden.
A gyerekek a kertben rohangálnak.
She hared back home to get her phone.
A car was haring down the road very fast.
Don’t hare off; we still need to talk.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this verb is common in all kinds of formal writing, but it is mostly used in informal speech or writing. They may also confuse it with "hurry" and try to use it in fixed expressions like "hare up" or "hare to do something" without an adverb, which sound unnatural. It is usually followed by an adverb or direction, as in "hare off" or "hare around."
Meaning
to run or rush very fast
Collocations
hare off
|hare around
|hare about
|hare back
|hare across the road
Synonyms
rush (Very close in meaning; "rush" is more common and general, while "hare" is more vivid and informal.)
Antonyms
dawdle (Means to move slowly and waste time, the opposite of hurrying or "haring" somewhere.)
Themes
movement
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go somewhere very fast, usually suddenly and without thinking much.
To run or rush somewhere very quickly, especially in a sudden or careless way.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hare
IPA
GB/hˈɛɹ/
US/hˈɛɹ/
Syllables & stress
hare (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hare)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hare
- Plural: hare, hares
Verb
- Base: hare
- 3rd Person Singular: hares
- Present Participle: haring
- Past: hared
Word family
Forms
hares
noun
haring
verb
hared
verb
Related words
rabbit
noun A1
Advanced or less common
harebrained
adjective
Expressions
hare around
1/hˈɛɹ ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
informal
rush around in a restless way
To move quickly from place to place in a busy or noisy way, often without a clear plan.
Examples
- She spent the morning haring around town doing last-minute shopping.
- I’ve been haring around all day trying to get everything ready for the trip.
- Instead of haring around the office, sit down and organize your tasks.
hare off
1/hˈɛɹ ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
informal
leave suddenly and very fast
To suddenly go away from a place very quickly, often without thinking much first.
Examples
- As soon as the bell rang, the students hared off towards the cafeteria.
- He hared off to the station when he realized his train was in ten minutes.
- Don’t just hare off the moment you finish; we still need your help.
mad as a March hare
1/mˈæd ˈæz ə mˈɑɹt͡ʃ hˈɛɹ/
idiom
informal
behaving in a crazy, wild way
To behave in a very strange, noisy, or wild way, as if you are crazy.
Examples
- The kids were mad as a March hare after all that sugar at the party.
- He starts talking about his latest plan, and honestly he sounds mad as a March hare.
- By the end of the night, everyone at the festival was mad as a March hare.
run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
1/ɹˈʌn wˈɪθ ðə hˈɛɹ ˈænd hˈʌnt wˈɪθ ðə hˈaʊndz/
idiom
literary
try to support opposing sides
To try to be friendly with two sides that are against each other, so you do not have to choose one side.
Examples
- Voters accused the minister of trying to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds on the tax issue.
- You can’t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds; you must take a clear position.
- The company seems to be running with the hare and hunting with the hounds by supporting both workers and their opponents only when it suits them.
start a hare
1/stˈɑɹt ə hˈɛɹ/
idiom
cause a new line of discussion
To say or do something that makes people start talking a lot about a new question or problem.
Examples
- His comment about budget cuts started a hare that ran through the whole meeting.
- I don’t want to start a hare, but has anyone checked the safety reports?
- The article started a hare about privacy that other journalists quickly followed.