just

¹ American  

[juhst] / dʒʌst /

adjective

1. guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness.

   We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.

   Synonyms:

   impartial, fair, equitable, upright

   Antonyms:

   biased

2. done or made according to principle; equitable; proper.

   a just reply.

3. based on right; rightful; lawful.

   a just claim.

   Synonyms:

   legal, legitimate

4. in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct.

   a just analysis.

   Synonyms:

   honest, exact, accurate

   Antonyms:

   untrue

5. given or awarded rightly; deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward.

   a just penalty.

   Synonyms:

   due, apt, suited, condign, appropriate

   Antonyms:

   unjustified

6. in accordance with standards or requirements; proper or right.

   just proportions.

7. (especially in Biblical use) righteous.

8. actual, real, or genuine.

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adverb

1. within a brief preceding time; but a moment before.

   The sun just came out.

2. exactly or precisely.

   This is just what I mean.

3. by a narrow margin; barely.

   The arrow just missed the mark.

4. only or merely.

   He was just a clerk until he became ambitious.

5. actually; really; positively.

   The weather is just glorious.

idioms

1. just so, neat and tidy; carefully arranged.

   My mother-in-law is very fussy; everything has to be placed just so.

just ² American  

[juhst] / dʒʌst /

noun

1. joust.

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just British  

adjective

1. 1. fair or impartial in action or judgment

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the just

2. conforming to high moral standards; honest

3. consistent with justice

   a just action

4. rightly applied or given; deserved

   a just reward

5. legally valid; lawful

   a just inheritance

6. well-founded; reasonable

   just criticism

7. correct, accurate, or true

   a just account

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adverb

1. used with forms of have to indicate an action performed in the very recent past

   I have just closed the door

2. at this very instant

   he's just coming in to land

3. no more than; merely; only

   just an ordinary car

4. exactly; precisely

   that's just what I mean

5. by a small margin; barely

   he just got there in time

6. (intensifier)

   it's just wonderful to see you

7. informal indeed; with a vengeance

   isn't it just

8. 1. at the point of starting (to do something)

   2. very nearly; almost

      I've just about had enough

9. an expression requesting the hearer to wait or pause for a brief period of time

10. 1. a very short time ago

    2. at this moment

    3. informal in a little while

11. having reached exactly

    it's just on five o'clock

12. 1. an expression of complete agreement or of unwillingness to dissent

    2. arranged with precision

just More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing just

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

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Usage

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

Other Word Forms

• juster
  noun
• justly
  adverb
• justness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of just

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin jūstus “righteous,” equivalent to jūs “law, right” + -tus, adjective suffix

Explanation

Just means "fair." When something is morally and ethically sound, it's just. If you are a just teacher, you won't give your student an F just because his mother is rude to you. Just might remind you of the word justice. When we describe a person, a rule, or a war as just, we mean that whatever has been done has been done for good reasons, and is fair to all sides. Just can also mean "only" or "simply." If swimming scares you, try the kiddie pool — it's just 3 feet deep. If you startle someone, say, "don't worry, it's just me." And something that happened only moments ago just happened.

Example Sentences

Just three weeks ago, the World Meteorological Organization said it saw a clear shift in sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, an indication that El Niño’s arrival is imminent.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Azerbaijani singer Jiva fought against restraints as she sang Just Go, a furious exorcism of a toxic relationship.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

"Just as humans have to solve problems to survive, the same goes for other organisms," says Zheng, now a postdoc at the Allen Institute.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

Just ask the 26-year-olds from the class of 2022 who graduated before ChatGPT’s mainstream release later that year.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Alas, Clare was forced to face the harrowing reality: Just as in his short, lonely life, he was unworthy of affection.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman