just

1
[ juhst ]
See synonyms for just on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.

  2. done or made according to principle; equitable; proper: a just reply.

  1. based on right; rightful; lawful: a just claim.

  2. in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct: a just analysis.

  3. given or awarded rightly; deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward: a just penalty.

  4. in accordance with standards or requirements; proper or right: just proportions.

  5. (especially in Biblical use) righteous.

  6. actual, real, or genuine.

adverb
  1. within a brief preceding time; but a moment before: The sun just came out.

  2. exactly or precisely: This is just what I mean.

  1. by a narrow margin; barely: The arrow just missed the mark.

  2. only or merely: He was just a clerk until he became ambitious.

  3. actually; really; positively: The weather is just glorious.

Idioms about just

  1. just so, neat and tidy; carefully arranged: My mother-in-law is very fussy; everything has to be placed just so.

Origin of just

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin jūstus “righteous,” equivalent to jūs “law, right” + -tus, adjective suffix

Other words for just

Opposites for just

Words that may be confused with just

Words Nearby just

Other definitions for just (2 of 2)

just2
[ juhst ]

noun, verb (used without object)

Other words from just

  • juster, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use just in a sentence

  • "Sure," grinned Stanton, with all the deceptive, undauntable optimism of the just-Awakened.

    Molly Make-Believe | Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
  • It is served by a ministerial-looking butler and a just-ready-to-be-ordained footman.

  • Till now one with sudden hiss: "But-good Christ-just look-why, the roof's leaning—!"

    The Lord of the Sea | M. P. Shiel
  • In it were included the names of his brother, of Couthon, and of Saint-just.

  • We hurried back for them, forgetting that we had promised ourselves a long just-us talk to bridge the months of separation.

    Paris Vistas | Helen Davenport Gibbons

British Dictionary definitions for just

just

adjective(dʒʌst)
    • fair or impartial in action or judgment

    • (as collective noun; preceded by the): the just

  1. conforming to high moral standards; honest

  1. consistent with justice: a just action

  2. rightly applied or given; deserved: a just reward

  3. legally valid; lawful: a just inheritance

  4. well-founded; reasonable: just criticism

  5. correct, accurate, or true: a just account

adverb(dʒʌst, unstressed dʒəst)
  1. used with forms of have to indicate an action performed in the very recent past: I have just closed the door

  2. at this very instant: he's just coming in to land

  1. no more than; merely; only: just an ordinary car

  2. exactly; precisely: that's just what I mean

  3. by a small margin; barely: he just got there in time

  4. (intensifier): it's just wonderful to see you

  5. informal indeed; with a vengeance: isn't it just

  6. just about

    • at the point of starting (to do something)

    • very nearly; almost: I've just about had enough

  7. just a moment, just a second or just a minute an expression requesting the hearer to wait or pause for a brief period of time

  8. just now

    • a very short time ago

    • at this moment

    • Southern African informal in a little while

  9. just on having reached exactly: it's just on five o'clock

  10. just so

    • an expression of complete agreement or of unwillingness to dissent

    • arranged with precision

Origin of just

1
C14: from Latin jūstus righteous, from jūs justice

usage For just

The use of just with exactly (it's just exactly what they want) is redundant and should be avoided: it's exactly what they want

Derived forms of just

  • justly, adverb
  • justness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with just

just

In addition to the idioms beginning with just

  • just about
  • just a minute
  • just as
  • just as soon
  • just deserts
  • just folks
  • just for the record
  • just in case
  • just in time
  • just like that
  • just now
  • just one of those things
  • just so
  • just the same
  • just the ticket
  • just what the doctor ordered

also see:

  • all (just) the same
  • get it (you just don't)
  • take it (just so much)

Also see underjustice.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.