joke
Americannoun
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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.
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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.
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a matter that need not be taken very seriously; trifling matter.
The loss was no joke.
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something that does not present the expected challenge; something very easy.
The test was a joke for the whole class.
verb (used without object)
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to speak or act in a playful or merry way.
He was always joking with us.
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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)
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to subject to jokes; make fun of; tease.
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to obtain by joking.
The comedian joked coins from the audience.
noun
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a humorous anecdote
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something that is said or done for fun; prank
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a ridiculous or humorous circumstance
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a person or thing inspiring ridicule or amusement; butt
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a matter to be joked about or ignored
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seriously: said to recall a discussion to seriousness after there has been joking
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something very serious
verb
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(intr) to tell jokes
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(intr) to speak or act facetiously or in fun
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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
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half-jokingadjective
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jokinglyadverb
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half-jokinglyadverb
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jokelessadjective
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unjokingadjective
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unjokinglyadverb
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have jokedperfect
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have been jokingperfect progressive
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has jokedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been jokingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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jokessingular 3rd person
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jokingparticiple
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are jokingprogressive
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is jokingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am jokingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had jokedperfect
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was jokingprogressive singular
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were jokingprogressive plural
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jokedparticiple
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had been jokingperfect progressive
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jokedsimple
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.
NO JOKE: A man walks into a bar ... and throws a bucket of paint over everyone.
From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2018
After watching the so called debate between seven candidates was a total JOKE.
From New York Times • Oct. 27, 2010
"TRAINING IS A JOKE" Staff Sergeant Joseph Cerce, 30, stares at the three gold hash marks on his left sleeve.
From Time Magazine Archive
Hey, Renee, do you want to hear a JOKE?
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
What sort of a girl was this, anyhow, who could forgive so freely and fully, and then call it all a JOKE!
From Patty's Butterfly Days by Wells, Carolyn
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.
