Standard Lemma guide

rubbernecking

noun · verb · 3 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

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  • /ˈɹʊbɚˌnɛkɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of slowing down while driving a vehicle, in order to see the scene of an accident.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Generally, any act of observation in a manner considered unduly overt or otherwise unseemly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • The children had never been in such a large museum and their rubbernecking was rather amusing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of rubberneck

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From rubber + neck + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: faire le badaud — slowing down to see the scene of an accident
  • German: Gaffen — slowing down to see the scene of an accident
  • Spanish: curiosear — slowing down to see the scene of an accident
  • Dutch: ramptoerisme — unseemly act of observation
  • German: Gaffen — unseemly act of observation
  • German: Spannen — unseemly act of observation
  • Spanish: cotilleo — unseemly act of observation