Standard Lemma guide

rubberneck

noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈɹʌbɚˌnɛk/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rubbernecker

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A tourist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Someone or something with a flexible neck.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To watch by craning the neck (as though it were made of rubber), especially if the observer and observed are in motion relative to each other.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The driver was so busy rubbernecking, trying to get a good view of the accident, that he was almost part of another accident.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To cause (someone) to watch in fascinated horror, as if rubbernecking to see a roadside accident.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

a person who stares inquisitively

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rubbernecker

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spectator, witness, viewer, watcher, looker

7

noun

Meaning 7

a tourist who is visiting sights of interest

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sightseer, excursionist, tripper

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tourist, tourer, holidaymaker

8

verb

Meaning 8

strain to watch; stare curiously

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The cars slowed down and the drivers rubbernecked after the accident

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: watch

History

Etymology

From rubber + neck. Coined in the sense of "tourist" in the United States in the late 19th century. A favored Americanism of H.L. Mencken.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: зяпач (zjapač) — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Finnish: töllistelijä — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • French: badaud — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • German: Gaffer — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • German: Gafferin — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • German: Schaulustiger — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Italian: ficcanaso — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Italian: curioso — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Italian: impiccione — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Macedonian: зја́пач (zjápač) — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Russian: зева́ка (zeváka) — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Russian: ротозе́й (rotozéj) — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Spanish: mirón — someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring — see also rubbernecker
  • Chinese Mandarin: 引頸而望 /引颈而望 (yǐnjǐng'érwàng) — to watch by craning the neck
  • Finnish: kurkottaa kaulaansa — to watch by craning the neck
  • French: faire le badaud — to watch by craning the neck
  • German: gaffen — to watch by craning the neck
  • German: sich den Hals verrenken — to watch by craning the neck
  • Russian: глазе́ть (glazétʹ) — to watch by craning the neck
  • Russian: пя́литься (pjálitʹsja) — to watch by craning the neck
  • Russian: тара́щиться (taráščitʹsja) — to watch by craning the neck
  • Spanish: sapear — to watch by craning the neck
  • Spanish: mirar — to watch by craning the neck
  • Spanish: curiosear — to watch by craning the neck