joke
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.
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.
to subject to jokes; make fun of; tease.
to obtain by joking: The comedian joked coins from the audience.
Origin of joke
1synonym study For joke
Other words for joke
Other words from joke
- jokeless, adjective
- jok·ing·ly, adverb
- half-joking, adjective
- half-jok·ing·ly, adverb
- un·jok·ing, adjective
- un·jok·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use joke in a sentence
Deep, situational, and emotional jokes based on what is relevant and has a POINT!
These were brilliant writers who were really great at keeping it to jokes.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness | Marlow Stern | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTNothing made Groucho funnier than having this Margaret Dumont around not understanding the jokes.
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire | William O’Connor | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIt was getting to create jokes at the source, and to get to hang out with comedians.
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire | William O’Connor | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut the jokes flow at such a torrential pace that duds are soon forgotten; the best are even Spamalot-worthy.
I couldn't help laughing, and he made a great many jokes at the expense of the waiters and everybody else.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayDeppe was in an uncommonly good humour, and kept making little jokes.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayHe is small, alert, brimful of jokes and of years; seventy they say, but he neither looks it nor acts it.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonAt lunch he was the greatest possible fun, bubbling over with jokes and witty sallies.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonHis raciest stories fell on dull ears; none of his jokes called forth a smile.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
British Dictionary definitions for joke
/ (dʒəʊk) /
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
joking apart seriously: said to recall a discussion to seriousness after there has been joking
no joke something very serious
(intr) to tell jokes
(intr) to speak or act facetiously or in fun
to make fun of (someone); tease; kid
Origin of joke
1Derived forms of joke
- jokingly, 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
Other Idioms and Phrases with joke
see crack a joke; dirty joke; no joke; sick joke; standing joke; take a joke.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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