just

[ juhst ]

/ dʒʌst /

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See synonyms for just on Thesaurus.com

adjective

guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.

done or made according to principle; equitable; proper: a just reply.

based on right; rightful; lawful: a just claim.

in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct: a just analysis.

given or awarded rightly; deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward: a just penalty.

in accordance with standards or requirements; proper or right: just proportions.

(especially in Biblical use) righteous.

actual, real, or genuine.

adverb

within a brief preceding time; but a moment before: The sun just came out.

exactly or precisely: This is just what I mean.

by a narrow margin; barely: The arrow just missed the mark.

only or merely: He was just a clerk until he became ambitious.

actually; really; positively: The weather is just glorious.

OTHER WORDS FOR just

1 upright; equitable, fair, impartial.

3 legitimate, legal.

4 accurate, exact; honest.

5 merited, appropriate, condign, suited, apt, due.

See synonyms for just on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR just

1 biased.

4 untrue.

5 unjustified.

See antonyms for just on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

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Idioms about just

just so, neat and tidy; carefully arranged: My mother-in-law is very fussy; everything has to be placed just so.

Origin of just

1325–75; Middle English <Latin jūstus righteous, equivalent to jūs law, right + -tus adj. suffix

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH just

gist, jest, just

Words nearby just

jus primae noctis, jus sanguinis, Jusserand, jussive, jus soli, just, just about, just a minute, just as, just as soon, justaucorps

Other definitions for just (2 of 2)

just²

[ juhst ]

/ dʒʌst /

noun, verb (used without object)

joust.

OTHER WORDS FROM just

juster, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use just in a sentence

In the just-released USA Today/Suffolk poll, Roberts trails his opponent by five points.
A Loss by Pat Roberts in Kansas? Actually, Not So Bizarre|Jeff Greenfield|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A just-published study in the journal Nature explored how mice reacted to a diet of artificial sweeteners.
Are Artificial Sweeteners Wrecking Your Diet?|DailyBurn|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Pamphlets were venues for advocacy and commentary on domestic affairs, but newspapers adopted a pose of just-the-facts neutrality.
How the News Business Found Its Footing|Nick Romeo|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
(Complete CPAC Coverage) A couple of speakers later, Mike Huckabee revved up the crowd with his just-plain-folks sermonizing.
On CPAC Day 2, the Libertarian Wing Takes Over|Michelle Cottle|March 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

So every bottle of rowanberry schnaps you see began with thousands of hand-harvest, just-frosted rowanberries.
What to Drink When it’s Cold? The Glory of Austrian Schnaps|Jordan Salcito|January 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Sure," grinned Stanton, with all the deceptive, undauntable optimism of the Just-Awakened.
Molly Make-Believe|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
It is served by a ministerial-looking butler and a just-ready-to-be-ordained footman.
Penelope's Experiences in Scotland|Kate Douglas Wiggin
Till now one with sudden hiss: "But-good Christ-just look-why, the roof's leaning—!"
The Lord of the Sea|M. P. Shiel
In it were included the names of his brother, of Couthon, and of Saint-Just.
Historical Tales, Vol. 6 (of 15)|Charles Morris
We hurried back for them, forgetting that we had promised ourselves a long just-us talk to bridge the months of separation.
Paris Vistas|Helen Davenport Gibbons

British Dictionary definitions for just

just

adjective (dʒʌst)

fair or impartial in action or judgment
(as collective noun; preceded by the)the just

conforming to high moral standards; honest

consistent with justicea just action

rightly applied or given; deserveda just reward

legally valid; lawfula just inheritance

well-founded; reasonablejust criticism

correct, accurate, or truea just account

adverb (dʒʌst, unstressed dʒəst)

used with forms of have to indicate an action performed in the very recent pastI have just closed the door

at this very instanthe's just coming in to land

no more than; merely; onlyjust an ordinary car

exactly; preciselythat's just what I mean

by a small margin; barelyhe just got there in time

(intensifier)it's just wonderful to see you

informal indeed; with a vengeanceisn't it just

just about

at the point of starting (to do something)
very nearly; almostI've just about had enough

just a moment, just a second or just a minute an expression requesting the hearer to wait or pause for a brief period of time

just now

a very short time ago
at this moment
Southern African informal in a little while

just on having reached exactlyit's just on five o'clock

just so

an expression of complete agreement or of unwillingness to dissent
arranged with precision

Derived forms of just

justly, adverbjustness, noun

Word Origin for just

C14: from Latin jūstus righteous, from jūs justice

usage for just

The use of just with exactly (it's just exactly what they want) is redundant and should be avoided: it's exactly what they want

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 just

just

In addition to the idioms beginning with just

just about
just a minute
just as
just as soon
just deserts
just folks
just for the record
just in case
just in time
just like that
just now
just one of those things
just so
just the same
just the ticket
just what the doctor ordered

also see:

all (just) the same
get it (you just don't)
take it (just so much)

Also see underjustice.

just

OTHER WORDS FOR just

OPPOSITES FOR just

Idioms about just

Origin of just

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH just

Words nearby just

Other definitions for just (2 of 2)

OTHER WORDS FROM just

Words related to just

How to use just in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for just

Derived forms of just

Word Origin for just

usage for just

Other Idioms and Phrases with just