- a person who stares or gapes inquisitively, esp in a naive or foolish manner
- a sightseer or tourist
- (intransitive) to stare in a naive or foolish manner
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rub•ber•neck /ˈrʌbɚˌnɛk/USA pronunciation
[Informal.]
v. [no object]
n. Also, ˈrub•berˌneck•er. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v. [no object]
- Informal Termsto stare with curiosity, as by twisting the neck or turning the head:Many of the drivers were rubbernecking at the accident on the side of the road.
n. Also, ˈrub•berˌneck•er. [countable]
- Informal Termsa curious onlooker.
rub•ber•neck
(rub′ər nek′),USA pronunciation [Informal.]
v.i.
v.t.
n. Also, rub′ber•neck′er.
v.i.
- Informal Termsto look about or stare with great curiosity, as by craning the neck or turning the head.
v.t.
- Informal Termsto gawk at:The tieup was due to drivers rubbernecking an accident.
n. Also, rub′ber•neck′er.
- Informal Termsa sightseer;
tourist. - Informal Termsan extremely curious person.
- rubber1 + neck 1895–1900, American.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rubberneck /ˈrʌbəˌnɛk/ informal n