just

Use just in a sentence

adjective

The definition of just is fair or right.
An example of just is proper, lawful punishment for a crime.

adverb

Just is defined as right before or merely.
1. An example of just is a boy entering the school immediately prior to the late bell ringing.
2. An example of just is working only a few hours per week.

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"Just." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/Just.

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Just. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Just

just

right or fair; equitable; impartial: a just decision
righteous; upright: a just man
deserved; merited: just praise
legally right; lawful; rightful
proper, fitting, etc.: a just balance of colors
well-founded; reasonable: a just suspicion
correct or true: a just report
accurate; exact: a just measure

Origin of just

Middle English from Old French juste from Classical Latin justus, lawful, rightful, proper from jus, right, law: see jury

neither more nor less than; precisely; exactly: just one o'clock
almost at the point of; nearly: just preparing to leave
no more than; only: just a taste, just teasing you
by a very small amount; barely: to just miss a train
a very short time ago: she has just left
immediately: just east of the church
Informal quite; really: to feel just fine

just Idioms

just about

Informal almost; nearly

just now

a moment ago

just the same

Informal nevertheless

joust

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MLA Style

"Just." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/Just.

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Just. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Just

just

adjective

Honorable and fair in one's dealings and actions: a just ruler. See Synonyms at fair¹.
Consistent with what is morally right; righteous: a just cause.
Properly due or merited: just deserts.
Law Valid within the law; lawful: just claims.
Suitable or proper in nature; fitting: a just touch of solemnity.
Based on fact or sound reason; well-founded: a just appraisal.

adverb

Precisely; exactly: just enough salt.
Only a moment ago: He just arrived.
By a narrow margin; barely: just missed being hit; just caught the bus before it pulled away.
At a little distance: just down the road.
Merely; only: just a scratch.
Simply; certainly: It's just beautiful!
Perhaps; possibly: I just may go.

Origin of just

Middle English juste from Old French from Latin iūstus ; see yewes- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

just′ly
adverb

just′ness
noun

noun

verb

Variant of joust

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"Just." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/Just.

APA Style

Just. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Just

Adjective

(comparative more just or juster, superlative most just or justest)

Factually fair; right, correct; proper.
It is a just assessment of the facts.
Morally fair; upright; righteous, equitable.
It looks like a just solution at first glance.

Antonyms

unjust

Adverb

(not comparable)

Only, simply, merely.
Plant just a few tomatoes, unless you can, freeze, or dry them.
He calls it vermilion, but it's just red to me.
(sentence adverb) Used to reduce the force of an imperative; simply.
Just follow the directions on the box.
(speech act) Used to convey a less serious or formal tone
I just called to say "hi".
(speech act) Used to show humility.
Lord, we just want to thank You and praise Your Name.
Moments ago, recently.
They just left, but you may leave a message at the desk.
By a narrow margin; closely; nearly.
The fastball just missed my head!
The piece just might fit.
Exactly, perfectly.
He wants everything just right for the big day.
Precisely.

Origin

From Middle English juste, from Old French juste, from Latin iustus (“just, lawful, rightful, true, due, proper, moderate”), from ius (“law, right”). Cognate with Dutch & Scottish juist, French juste etc.

Noun

(plural justs)