Joneses
Americanplural noun
Etymology
Origin of Joneses
First recorded in 1925–30
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.
Revenue growth at these companies should support the spending for now, but keeping up with the AI Joneses is also eventually going to require more debt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 16, 2025
With TikTok and Instagram reels constantly bombarding you with ads and influencer promotions, it’s hard not to feel like you’re missing out if you’re not buying the latest products and keeping up with the Joneses.
From Salon ● Feb. 17, 2025
Using private equity to keep up with the Joneses has the fatal flaw that the Joneses have their own access to capital.
From Slate ● Dec. 12, 2024
We won’t keep trying to keep up with the Joneses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2023
“Oh,” we all say, because the Joneses don’t eat dessert unless it’s a holiday.
From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King
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.
