just
/d͡ʒʌst/ adjective, adverb, interjection, noun, verb
Also a form of joust
Forms juster justest justs justing justed jes jes' jest jist jus' iust j js
- adjective Factually right, correct; factual. “It is a just assessment of the facts.”
- adjective Rationally right, correct.
- adjective Morally right; upright, righteous, equitable; fair. “It looks like a just solution at first glance.”
- adjective Proper, adequate.
- adverb Only, simply, merely. “Just plant a few tomatoes, unless you can freeze or dry them.”
- adverb Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.
- adverb (sentence adverb) Used to reduce the force of an imperative; simply. “Just follow the directions on the box.”
- adverb (sentence adverb) Used to increase the force of an imperative; simply, without questioning. “I'm tired of playing games – just get it done.”
- adverb Used to convey a less serious or formal tone. “I just called to say "hi".”
- adverb (degree) Absolutely, positively. “It is just splendid!”
- adverb Moments ago, only very recently. “They just left, but you may leave a message at the desk.”
- adverb By a narrow margin; closely; narrowly; almost not. “The fastball just missed my head!”
- interjection (slang) Expressing dismay or discontent.
- noun A joust, tournament.
- verb To joust, fight a tournament.
Synonyms
right correct righteous equitable proper adequate barely on the dot simply freshly lately newly hardly narrowly scarcely smack-dab merely fair good upright only but precisely exactly just now scarce
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English juste, from Old French juste, from Latin iūstus (“just, lawful, rightful, true, due, proper, moderate”), from Proto-Italic *jowestos, related to Latin iūs (“law, right”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Compare Scots juist (“just”), Saterland Frisian juust (“just”), West Frisian just (“just”), Dutch juist (“just”), German Low German jüst (“jüst”), German just (“just”), Danish just (“just”), Swedish just (“just”). Doublet of giusto.
Variation of joust, presumably ultimately from Latin iuxta (“near, besides”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Conforming or conformable to rectitude or justice; not doing wrong to any; violating no right or obligation; upright; righteous; honest; true; --said both of persons and things. "O just but severe law!" Shak.
- adjective Not transgressing the requirement of truth and propriety; conformed to the truth of things, to reason, or to a proper standard; exact; normal; reasonable; regular; due; as, a just statement; a just inference.
- adverb Precisely; exactly; --in place, time, or degree; neither more nor less than is stated.
- adverb Closely; nearly; almost.
Etymology [F. juste, L. justus, fr. jus right, law, justice; orig., that which is fitting; akin to Skr. yu to join. Cf. Injury, Judge, Jury, Giusto.]
Etymology [See Joust.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “just”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details