joke
Americannoun
-
something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote, or a prankish act.
He tells very funny jokes. She played a joke on him.
-
something that is amusing or ridiculous, especially because of being ludicrously inadequate or a sham; a thing, situation, or person laughed at rather than taken seriously; farce.
Their pretense of generosity is a joke. An officer with no ability to command is a joke.
-
a matter that need not be taken very seriously; trifling matter.
The loss was no joke.
-
something that does not present the expected challenge; something very easy.
The test was a joke for the whole class.
verb (used without object)
-
to speak or act in a playful or merry way.
He was always joking with us.
-
to say something in fun or teasing rather than in earnest; be facetious.
He didn't really mean it, he was only joking.
verb (used with object)
-
to subject to jokes; make fun of; tease.
-
to obtain by joking.
The comedian joked coins from the audience.
noun
-
a humorous anecdote
-
something that is said or done for fun; prank
-
a ridiculous or humorous circumstance
-
a person or thing inspiring ridicule or amusement; butt
-
a matter to be joked about or ignored
-
seriously: said to recall a discussion to seriousness after there has been joking
-
something very serious
verb
-
(intr) to tell jokes
-
(intr) to speak or act facetiously or in fun
-
to make fun of (someone); tease; kid
Synonym Usage
Joke, jest refer to something said (or done) in sport, or to cause amusement. A joke is something said or done for the sake of exciting laughter; it may be raillery, a witty remark, or a prank or trick: to tell a joke. Jest, today a more formal word, nearly always refers to joking language and is more suggestive of scoffing or ridicule than is joke : to speak in jest.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
half-jokingadjective
-
jokelessadjective
-
unjokingadjective
-
half-jokinglyadverb
-
jokinglyadverb
-
unjokinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
jokesimple
-
jokessimple
-
have jokedperfect
-
has jokedperfect
-
am jokingprogressive
-
are jokingprogressive
-
is jokingprogressive
-
have been jokingperfect progressive
-
has been jokingperfect progressive
Past
-
jokedsimple
-
had jokedperfect
-
was jokingprogressive
-
were jokingprogressive
-
had been jokingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of joke
First recorded in 1660–70, joke is from the Latin word jocus “jest”
Explanation
A joke is a funny story or line that's meant to make people laugh. When you're good at telling jokes, you're the life of the party (and you're probably not telling knock-knock jokes). Many jokes have a "punch line," the part that either makes your listeners guffaw or groan, depending on how funny it is. The rest of the joke leads up to this climax. Another kind of joke is the "practical" sort, a prank, gag, or trick you play on someone. In the 1660s the word was spelled joque and was considered slang. It comes from the Latin root iocus, "joke, sport, or pastime."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It helps determine when to be diplomatic, when to joke, and how to interpret countless social cues.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
The big joke of “Gail Daughtry” could be that Slattery joins the gang to help locate his old costar, with whom he’s lost touch after being left on read too many times.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
Staying connected in the sport by participating in Biles’ “Gold Over America Tour” in 2021 and 2024, Ohashi would often joke of a comeback.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Liberland may look and sound like a joke.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
He likes when I joke around with him.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
The film’s brilliance comes from Wain and Marino knowing how to pummel the viewer with jokes while measuring each punchline’s individual weight.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
"Building an actual exoplanet in the lab wasn't in the budget," Noto jokes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026
They exchange jokes in air-raid shelters, and help elderly residents evacuate damaged buildings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
You guys find a way in the special of battling through it with jokes about Stage 4 cancer,
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
That starts the ten thousandth argument between Autumn and her parents about whether the dad jokes are discouraging her friends from coming to visit her.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
"For all those people in Northern Ireland, I say blame it on Jimmy and blame it on Liam, it's their fault," he joked.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
When the country’s Natural Environment Research Council decided to put the name of their new Antarctic research vessel to a public vote, a radio presenter joked that it should be “Boaty McBoatface.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
“Oh man, could you take me with you? Just put me in your back pocket,” one man joked.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Some Americans who are getting married have even joked on Reddit that they may purchase 500 stamps before the price increase to cut down the cost of mailing out save-the-dates, wedding invitations and thank-you cards.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
“We might as well set up a chair here,” he joked.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
The next morning, everyone is joking and chatting as they submit their final choices to Yoo by text.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
The Australian prime minister has previously referred to Modi as "The Boss", joking that he could pull bigger crowds than US rock icon Bruce Springsteen.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
Mr. Rogen balances the joking and the despair like the great comic actors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
“You should join me,” I said, half joking.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Asking me about root, instead of joking about something they didn’t understand.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
