An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; of obscure origin
When you josh, you joke around, teasing and bantering. You probably josh your brother about the weird things he says when he talks in his sleep. Most people laugh when someone joshes with them, although others take offense or don't realize that you're only joking. Your favorite uncle might josh around with you, making you giggle, and you can josh right back at him, teasing him for his silly mustache. Josh comes from American slang, from the boy's name Joshua, although it's not clear why this name was used to mean "be silly."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The other option is to join the crude, cynical supergroup modeled by the “Expendables” series, in which beloved stars josh and jostle for a cash grab.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
"They just have a really happy relationship and they can josh each other along when needed and yet have real support for each other which is wonderful."
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2022
Holtz is a wiry man with a lined face, a Brooklyn accent—he grew up in Sheepshead Bay—and a digressive speaking style that his colleagues like to josh about.
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 18, 2019
Focus on your life and your daughter and move on josh.
From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2019
And the same thought went through all their minds, josh Billings was a great man, a great writer.
From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck
So being able to reproduce results using identical equipment in different institutions gives scientists like Dr Josh Bailey robust evidence to rely on.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Discussions have been taking place amongst a tight group of people - the next Number 10 chief of staff James Purnell, Louise Haigh and the former MP who stood aside for Burnham, Josh Simons.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Gill had just pulled Josh Tongue for four when cramp struck.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
His father, Josh Bard, spent 10 seasons in the major leagues with five teams and is now the Dodgers’ bullpen coach.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Everyone knew this story: how a few years ago Josh Trammell, a sophomore, had fallen asleep with a candle lit and burned his parents’ house down.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
“I love Josh. I love him - everything that he brings to the table,” Hyde said.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 17, 2023
“No surgery is needed for Josh. It will just be a rest period,” Norwich manager Dean Smith said Friday.
From Seattle Times ● May 7, 2022
"We now have paid Josh. Which is good, because I know what his number is on the books for the upcoming years and we can just build around it," Beane said.
From Fox News ● Jan. 26, 2022
“We love Josh. He’s a star,” adding, “It’s all going to start with Josh Hawley.”
From New York Times ● Oct. 21, 2018
“It’s all right, Josh. It’s all over. You don’t know how funny the world can be, do you? Maybe even a little crazy. There are times when people just have to laugh.”
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
We love playing zoos,” joshes Hammond B-3 organ player John Medeski, whose trio, Medeski, Martin & Wood, swells to a quartet with guitarist John Scofield at the Woodland Park Zoo on Thursday, June 18.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 13, 2014
As he smiles for the television cameras and joshes with House Speaker John Boehner, I hope that Obama will quote an old enemy to his new friend.
From Nature ● Nov. 28, 2012
He joshes with Jon Stewart, poses for the covers of Wired and Fortune.
From Salon ● May 4, 2011
Mid-block, Officer Robert Grisby joshes with an emaciated woman.
From Washington Post
And he joshes and jollies all day long.
From The Californiacs by Gillmore, Inez Haynes
Charles joshed at a banquet dinner in the White House.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
Biden gladhanded and joshed at a running shoe store, bicycle shop and coffee house in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 12, 2024
While his pals traded war stories and joshed each other about glory days gone by, he would feel uncomfortably out of place.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2019
He joshed about the annual event’s brand-new “reality show” wrinkle of public voting between two turkeys named Peas and Carrots to see which one gets, you might say, the embrace.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 20, 2018
They grinned back, and Smiley kind of joshed my shoulder as they moved toward the dining room, where Aunt Carrie and Miss Sarah, French Gordy’s wife, were slicing cakes and pies.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
The jury takes part in the spectacle, happily joshing with the defense lawyers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
As for the internet, I saw exactly one right-leaning economist gently joshing Stephens for his remarks.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 29, 2023
Part of the appeal of the show is the humor, both Rowe’s self-depreciating style and that which naturally emerges from the workers, whether they’re gently mocking Rowe or good-naturedly joshing with each other.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 2022
Comedian Rick Ingraham had the tough task of opening the show, joshing some of the front row with some crowd work while the seats filled up, house lights still on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2022
As boys suited up and hoisted oars in and out of the racks, there was little of the usual banter and joshing.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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.
