rubberneck

1 of 2

noun

rub·​ber·​neck ˈrə-bər-ˌnek 

1

: an overly inquisitive person

2

: tourist

especially : one on a guided tour

rubberneck

2 of 2

verb

rubbernecked; rubbernecking; rubbernecks

intransitive verb

1

: to look about or stare with exaggerated curiosity

drivers passing the accident slowed down to rubberneck

2

: to go on a tour : sightsee

rubbernecker

ˈrə-bər-ˌne-kər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• excursionist
• rubbernecker
• sightseer
• tourist
• traveler
• traveller
• tripper [chiefly British]

Verb

• blink
• gape
• gawk
• gawp [chiefly British]
• gaze
• goggle
• peer
• stare

Examples of rubberneck in a Sentence

Noun

every year raucous rubbernecks by the busload descend upon the city for its famed Mardi Gras

Verb

She was rubbernecking and almost got in an accident herself.

thoughtless drivers pausing on the highway to rubberneck at the accident

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Flimflam felt better in the mouth than swindle, and rubberneck was a more agreeable verb than crane. —Ralph Keyes, Time, 1 Apr. 2021

What can only be described as a rubberneck-inducing, Alfalfa hair situation ensues, rendering her date-night vibe—a formfitting V-neck pink dress and no-makeup makeup look—virtually irreparable. —Kate Branch, Vogue, 15 July 2018

Verb

The juxtaposition of Lopez’s avant-garde clothes, against the rubbernecking tourists in tees and shorts just outside the barricades, was genius. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2024

Or a picture of the grimy, rubbernecking cameraman of Nightcrawler. —Marco Grob, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rubberneck

verb

rub·​ber·​neck

ˈrəb-ər-ˌnek

: to look around or stare with great curiosity