just
adjectiveadverbinterjectionnounverbtop 100 in film dialogue
- United States//d͡ʒʌst//
- United States/[d͡ʒʌst]/
- United States/[d͡ʒʌs]/
- United States/[d͡ʒəs]/
- //d͡ʒʊst//
Factually right, correct; factual.
adjective
- 1
Factually right, correct; factual.
It is a just assessment of the facts.
- 2
Rationally right, correct.
- 3
Morally right; upright, righteous, equitable; fair.
It looks like a just solution at first glance.
My lord, we know your grace to be a man Just and upright.
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Here is a Proclamation for a Prince: that proclaims him in whoſe name it is emitted [James II of England], to be the greateſt Tyrant that ever lived in the world, and their Revolt who have diſowned him to be the juſteſt that ever was.
- 4
Proper, adequate.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₂yéwos Proto-Italic *jowos Old Latin *iowos, *iowez- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Old Latin -tus Old Latin iovestos Latin iūstus Old French justebor. Middle English juste English just From Middle English juste, from Old French juste, from Latin iūstus (“just, lawful, rightful, true, due, proper, moderate”), from Proto-Italic *jowestos, related to Latin iūs (“law, right”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Compare Scots juist (“just”), Saterland Frisian juust (“just”), West Frisian just (“just”), Dutch juist (“just”), German Low German jüst (“jüst”), German just (“just”), Danish just (“just”), Swedish just (“just”). Doublet of giusto.
adverb
- 1
Only, simply, merely.
Just plant a few tomatoes, unless you can freeze or dry them.
He calls it vermilion, but it's just red to me.
Philander went into the next room, which was just a lean-to hitched on to the end of the shanty, and came back with a salt mackerel that dripped brine like a rainstorm. Then he put the coffee pot on the stove and rummaged out a loaf of dry bread and some hardtack.
From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much.[…] But viewed from high up in one of the growing number of skyscrapers in Sri Lanka’s capital, it is clear that something extraordinary is happening: China is creating a shipping hub just 200 miles from India’s southern tip.
- 2
Only, simply, merely. Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.
I spent two hours cooking my favorite recipe, just to burn the rice and ruin the meal.
I helped him out, just for him to betray me.
- 3
Used to reduce the force of an imperative; simply.
Just follow the directions on the box.
- 4
Used to increase the force of an imperative; simply, without questioning.
I'm tired of playing games – just get it done.
- 5
Used to convey a less serious or formal tone.
I just called to say "hi".
- 6
Absolutely, positively.
It is just splendid!
just fine
- 7
Barely, hardly, scarcely. Moments ago, only very recently.
They just left, but you may leave a message at the desk.
Philander went into the next room[…]and came back with a salt mackerel[…]. Next he put the mackerel in a fry-pan, and the shanty began to smell like a Banks boat just in from a v'yage.
- 8
Barely, hardly, scarcely. By a narrow margin; closely; narrowly; almost not.
The fastball just missed my head!
The fire department arrived just in time.
The piece just might fit.
Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime.
- 9
Exactly, precisely, perfectly.
He wants everything just right for the big day.
And having just enough, not covet more.
The god Pan […] guided my hand so just to the heart of the beast.
To-night, at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one.
interjection
- 1
slangExpressing dismay or discontent.
noun
- 1
A joust, tournament.
Justs and tilts were held here weekly, while the great tourneys that occurred less often were given upon a field outside the castle wall upon the floor of the valley.
Etymology
Variation of joust, presumably ultimately from Latin iuxta (“near, besides”).
verb
- 1
To joust, fight a tournament.
He iusts with her vnknowne whom he lou’d best, [...].
Forms
- plural
- justs
- comparative
- juster, more just
- superlative
- justest, most just
- past tense
- justed
- past participle
- justed
- present participle
- justing
- third person singular
- justs