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.
- practical joke.
- 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
Synonyms for joke
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for joking
Contemporary Examples of joking
At first, she thought he was just joking around, but soon, Mulvehill was scaring her, according to the report.
All joking aside, what was once considered an expensive gimmick is on the verge of going mainstream.
The best celebrities understood that Rivers' joking wasn't personal, said Kotsiopoulos.
Melissa Rivers: Life After Joan—A Funny, Moving Celebration on a Special 'Fashion Police'Tim Teeman
September 20, 2014
At the end of that sequence, Johnny was joking around and said, “We should just put them to work and retire.”
Kevin Smith's Marijuanaissance: On 'Tusk,' 'Falling Out' with Ben Affleck, and 20 Years of 'Clerks'Marlow Stern
September 9, 2014
“A few bad shows, a few failures, and I could be sleeping on the street,” she once said, not joking.
Historical Examples of joking
"I think more of the sorrows of Sir Condy," says my master, joking like.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
Arthur was not inclined for joking; the affair perplexed him in no ordinary degree.
The ChanningsMrs. Henry Wood
Joking is undignified; that is why it is so good for one's soul.
Alarms and DiscursionsG. K. Chesterton
Miss G. You're joking,—and I believe, sir, you're not over and above sober.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
I was just joking about how you never get over thinking I'm a little boy.
Alice AdamsBooth Tarkington
joke
- 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
Word Origin for joke
Word Origin and History for joking
joke
1660s, "to make a joke," from Latin iocari "to jest, joke," from iocus (see joke (n.)). Related: Joked; joking.
joke
1660s, joque, "a jest, something done to excite laughter," from Latin iocus "joke, sport, pastime," from PIE root *yek- "to speak" (cf. Breton iez "language," Old High German jehan "to say," German Beichte "confession").
Originally a colloquial or slang word. Meaning "something not to be taken seriously" is 1791. Practical joke "trick played on someone for the sake of a laugh at his expense" is from 1804 (earlier handicraft joke, 1741). Black joke is old slang for "smutty song" (1730s), from use of that phrase in the refrain of a then-popular song as a euphemism for "the monosyllable."
Idioms and Phrases with joking
joking
see all joking aside.
joke
see crack a joke; dirty joke; no joke; sick joke; standing joke; take a joke.