1 just
/ˈʤʌst/
adjective
1 just
/ˈʤʌst/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of JUST
[more just; most just]
formal
1
a
:
agreeing with what is considered morally right or good
:
fair
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a just society
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a just cause for war
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a just decision
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b
:
treating people in a way that is considered morally right
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a just man
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2
a
:
reasonable or proper
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The college treated the allegation with just seriousness.
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b
:
deserved and appropriate
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They got their just punishment for the crime.
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a just reward
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We all want to see this criminal get his just deserts. [=get the punishment that he deserves]
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— justly
adverb
-
She is justly [=properly] admired for her charitable work.
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— justness
/ˈʤʌstnəs/
noun
[noncount]
-
the justness of their decision
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2 just
/ˈʤʌst/
adverb
2 just
/ˈʤʌst/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of JUST
1
:
to an exact degree or in an exact manner
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You look just [=exactly] like your father.
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The store has just the tool you need.
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That's just what I expected.
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You have to accept me just as I am.
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This shirt fits just right.
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She called him a liar and told him he was just like all the other men she'd met.
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It's just like you to be jealous every time I speak to another woman. [=you're always jealous when I speak to another woman]
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— see also just my luck at 1luck
2
a
:
very recently
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The bell just rang.
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He was just here a minute ago.
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She had just returned when he entered.
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She has just acted in her first play. = (chiefly US) She just acted in her first play.
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I've just been trying to call you! = (chiefly US) I was just trying to call you!
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b
:
at this or that exact moment or time
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I was just going to telephone you!
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She's just finishing a letter, and she'll be with you shortly.
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c
— used to say that two or more events are happening at the same time or with very little time between them
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He confessed just before he died.
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The phone rang just as/when we were leaving.
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I came just as soon as I heard the news.
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d
— used to emphasize that a moment or time is not far from the present moment
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She'll be back in just a minute. [=she'll be back very soon]
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I saw her here just yesterday.
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3
a
:
by a small amount
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I had just [=barely] enough time to eat breakfast before leaving.
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I arrived just in time to see him win.
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We could (only) just see the ship coming over the horizon.
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The horse's time for the race was just short of the record. = The horse just missed breaking the record.
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It should take us just [=slightly] under/over an hour to get there.
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b
:
by a small distance
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She lives just west of here.
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The bathroom is just down the hall.
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Just [=directly] across from the bank is a hotel.
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The restaurant is just around the corner.
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— see also just around the corner at 1corner
4
a
:
nothing more than
:
only
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This is just [=simply] a note to say I love you.
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He is just an assistant to the manager.
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She was just a baby when her father went off to war.
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Is it just a coincidence that I see him everywhere I go?
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He has just two months left before his retirement.
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“Will you have another drink?” “Well, perhaps just (the) one.”
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I don't know him well: I've met him just (the) once. [=I've met him only one time]
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“Who is she?” “Oh, just somebody who works in the same office as me.”
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I love just you and nobody else but you.
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She'll be away from her desk for just a few minutes. = She'll just be away from her desk for a few minutes.
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They took a nice field and turned it into just another shopping mall.
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He's just another guy trying to get rich without working too hard.
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b
— used to stress the simple truth of a description or statement
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We'd like to buy a new car. We just [=simply] don't have enough money.
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Sometimes a person just wants to be left alone.
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She just wanted to say goodbye.
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You'll just have to be patient.
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I'm sorry if I seem grouchy. I'm just tired.
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The wedding was just wonderful.
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I feel just great!
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The kids want to camp in the backyard, just for fun. [=simply to have fun]
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c
— used in polite requests
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Could I just borrow that pen for a minute? Thanks!
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Would you just step this way, please, ladies and gentlemen.
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d
— used for emphasis when you give an order or make a suggestion
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Why don't we just forget the whole thing.
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Just hold on a minute! Did you say you'd solved the problem?!
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Just [=simply] tell him you don't feel like going out.
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Just (you) wait until your father sees this mess, young lady!
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Don't argue with me: just do it!
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Just imagine how silly she'll feel when she realizes that she was wrong.
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Just look at the size of that thing!
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Just think how happy we could be.
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e
— used to describe what someone does instead of doing what is necessary or expected
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Don't just stand there: do something!
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She just stood there watching as he walked away.
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I can't just pretend nothing happened.
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5
— used with words like might and may to refer to something that is possible
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I know you don't expect him to succeed, but he might just surprise you. [=he might succeed]
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It's a crazy idea, but it just might work!
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You know, you just might be right about that.
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6
British, informal
:
indeed
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Isn't the city hot, just!
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just about
:
almost or nearly
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It was just about time to leave.
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The work is just about done.
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That is just about the biggest horse I have ever seen. [=that is a very big horse]
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That is just about the stupidest thing she has ever done.
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just a minute/second/moment
1
— used to ask someone to wait or stop briefly
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Just a second and I will get that book for you.
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2
— used to demand that someone stop or listen
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Just a minute, young lady! You can't park there!
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just anyone
:
any person at all
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I don't lend money to just anyone.
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just as
:
to an equal degree as
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Our house is just as nice as theirs.
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This one is just as good as that one.
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She performs just as well as he does.
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:
in the same way as
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Just as we hope to be forgiven, so we should forgive others.
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Just as I thought/suspected, the door is locked. [=I thought that the door would be locked, and it is]
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just as soon
◊ If you would just as soon do something, you would prefer to do it. We asked him to come with us, but he said he'd just as soon stay home. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
just as well
◊ If it is just as well that something happens, then it is a good thing, even if it was not expected or intended. It's just as well she didn't get that job, since she will now be closer to home. I really didn't want to stay home this weekend, but it's just as well. I have a lot to do. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
just because
— see because
just like that
:
very suddenly
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The girl vanished just like that.
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Just like that it started raining.
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just now
or
just this minute/second
1
:
a moment ago
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I saw him just now.
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I was just this minute thinking about calling you.
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2
:
at this moment
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They are just now heading out the door.
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just on
British, informal
:
exactly
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It was just on midnight.
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just so
:
in a particular way
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They feel they have to dress just so to be popular.
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:
arranged in a very neat and tidy way
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Everything in her house has to be just so or she gets upset. [=everything has to be exactly as she likes it]
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just the same
— see 2same
just the thing
:
the best or perfect thing
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I have just the thing for your hair.
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just yet
:
right now
— used in negative constructions to say that something is not done yet or true yet but will be soon
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I don't have the table finished just yet.
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“Are you ready to leave?” “Not just yet.”
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not just
— used to say that one thing is true and that another thing is also true
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She's not just my friend, she's my lawyer.
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