jest
a joke or witty remark; witticism.
a bantering remark; a piece of good-natured ridicule; taunt.
sport or fun: to speak half in jest, half in earnest.
the object of laughter, sport, or mockery; laughing-stock.
Obsolete. an exploit.: Compare gest.
to speak in a playful, humorous, or facetious way; joke.
to speak or act in mere sport, rather than in earnest; trifle (often followed by with): Please don't jest with me.
to utter derisive speeches; gibe or scoff.
to deride or joke at; banter.
Origin of jest
1synonym study For jest
Other words for jest
Other words from jest
- jestful, adjective
- jest·ing·ly, adverb
- outjest, verb (used with object)
- un·jest·ing, adjective
- un·jest·ing·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with jest
Words Nearby jest
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use jest in a sentence
Moves like these, even if mentioned in jest, could hurt the company’s reputation and culture, analysts say, and will likely make it harder for Twitter’s board to sell to him.
Here’s What Wall Street Thinks About Elon Musk’s Bid to Buy Twitter | Nik Popli | April 15, 2022 | TimeSometimes when backpacking, we’d yip in jest, and she’d throw her head back and join in with a heart-rattling howl.
Yes, some Losers have complained to me — only sometimes in jest — about being forced to read enormous amounts of news coverage for 11 straight days.
This is the experience that some people—not I, mind you, but some people—have when reading Infinite jest, for instance.
Lars Iyer’s ‘Wittgenstein Jr.’ Plumbs the Deep Fun of Philosophical Fiction | Drew Smith | October 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter a while, he began to jest that there were snipers across the street trying to get him.
Doug Kenney: The Odd Comic Genius Behind ‘Animal House’ and National Lampoon | Robert Sam Anson | March 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Rawcus has to provide a solid argument in his rhetoric to make such an accusation, even in jest.
Rawcus Is the Rapper Behind the Viral ‘White People Crazy’ Video | Rich Goldstein | January 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd this explosion was fictional and in jest, so you can call it a pretty big hoot!
It may have been said in jest, but a legion of Hollywood actresses would have nodded ruefully in unison.
I've tried to teach lots of folks; an' sum learns quick, an' some don't never learn; it's jest 's 't strikes 'em.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonI allow we shan't never set eyes on ter her, Jos. I've got jest thet feelin' abaout it.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonI never see sech hosses; 'n' they're jest like kittens; they've ben drefful pets, I allow.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonI ain't a gwine ter back daown naow; but I dew jest wish Jeff Hyer wuz along.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonBut I allow they'd flatten us all aout in jest abaout a minnit, if they wuz to set aout tew!
Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
British Dictionary definitions for jest
/ (dʒɛst) /
something done or said for amusement; joke
a frivolous mood or attitude; playfulness; fun: to act in jest
a jeer or taunt
an object of derision; laughing stock; butt
to act or speak in an amusing, teasing, or frivolous way; joke
to make fun of (a person or thing); scoff or mock
Origin of jest
1Derived forms of jest
- jestful, adjective
- jesting, adjective, noun
- jestingly, adverb
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
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