just

¹

[ juhst ]

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.

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.

just

²

[ juhst ]

noun

1. joust.

just

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

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. just about
   1. at the point of starting (to do something)
   2. very nearly; almost

      I've just about had enough

9. just a moment or just a second or just a minute
   an expression requesting the hearer to wait or pause for a brief period of time
10. just now
    1. a very short time ago
    2. at this moment
    3. in a little while
11. just on
    having reached exactly

    it's just on five o'clock

12. just so
    1. an expression of complete agreement or of unwillingness to dissent
    2. arranged with precision

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

Derived Forms

• ˈjustly, adverb
• ˈjustness, noun

Other Words From

• juster noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of just¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of just¹

C14: from Latin jūstus righteous, from jūs justice

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

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

More idioms and phrases containing just

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

Example Sentences

“We played well. I mean, obviously, the biggest bucket of the night, obviously, was Franz. But we put ourselves in a position to win the game and we just didn’t come through.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Just because there has been a lot of stuff said about me that's absolutely not true."

From BBC

Smollett replies: "Yeah I do, I just wanted you to see it."

From BBC

Smollett is released after serving just six days of his sentence after his lawyers immediately launched an appeal.

From BBC

Both sides like to entertain and attack, just with slightly different ways in how they go about it.

From BBC