just

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. - 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio),...
    • Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Colossians 4:1:
  4. Proper, adequate.

Origin

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.

Forms

juster more just justest most just jes jes' jest jist jus' iust j js

Synonyms

right correct righteous equitable proper adequate

Antonyms

unjust

Related

justice

Derived

just cause just compensation just deserts just intonation justly justness just reward just-world fallacy just-world hypothesis overjust sleep of the just

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...

    1. 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.
  2. Used to reduce the force of an imperative; simply.
    • Just follow the directions on the box.
  3. Used to increase the force of an imperative; simply, without questioning.
    • I'm tired of playing games – just get it done.
  4. Used to convey a less serious or formal tone
    • I just called to say "hi".
  5. Absolutely, positively.
    • It is just splendid!
    • just fine
  6. Barely, hardly, scarcely.
    • 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. - 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln,...

    1. Moments ago, only very recently.

    2. 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.
  7. Exactly, precisely, perfectly.
    • He wants everything just right for the big day.
    • And having just enough, not covet more. - 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Fourteenth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated...
    • The god Pan […] guided my hand so just to the heart of the beast. - c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Second Booke] Chapter 19”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio],...

Forms

jes jes' jest jist jus' iust j js

Synonyms

merely simply freshly lately newly barely hardly narrowly scarcely on the dot smack-dab

Derived

a cigar is just a cigar age is just a number denial ain't just a river in Egypt denial is not just a river in Egypt denial isn't just a river in Egypt die just how one lived die just like one lived die just the way one lived I just work here is it just me is that a gun in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me it is always darkest just before the dawn it is darkest just before the dawn it is not just you just about just a minute just another pretty face just a sec just a second just as soon as just assume just as well just because just curious

Interjection

  1. Expressing dismay or discontent.

Forms

jes jes' jest jist jus' iust j js

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. - 1928, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter 11, in Tarzan,...

Origin

Variation of joust, presumably ultimately from Latin iuxta (“near, besides”).

Forms

justs

Verb

  1. To joust, fight a tournament.
    • He iusts with her vnknowne whom he lou’d best, [...]. - 1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Third Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of...

Forms

justs justing justed