just

UK: /ˈdʒʌst/, /ˈdʒəst/ US: /dʒʌst/ ,( just)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

just¹ /dʒʌst/   adv. 

1. within a brief preceding time;
   only a moment before:
   The sun just came out.
2. at this moment:
   The movie is just ending.
3. exactly or precisely:
   That's just what I mean.
4. by a narrow margin;
   barely:
   She's just over six feet tall.
5. only or merely:
   I was just a child.
6. simply:
   We'll just have to wait and see.
7. quite;
   really;
   positively:
   I'm feeling just fine.

adj. 

8. guided by reason, justice, and fairness:
   a just society.
9. done or made according to principle;
   equitable;
   proper:
   a just reply.
10. based on right;
    rightful;
    lawful:
    a just claim to the land.
11. given or awarded rightly;
    deserved:
    The criminal received a just punishment.

Idioms

12. just about, almost;
    nearly:
    Dinner was just about ready.

just•ly, adv. 
just•ness, n. [uncountable] ]See -jus-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

just¹  ( just), adj. 

1. guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness:
   We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.
2. done or made according to principle;
   equitable;
   proper:
   a just reply.
3. based on right;
   rightful;
   lawful:
   a just claim.
4. in keeping with truth or fact;
   true;
   correct:
   a just analysis.
5. given or awarded rightly;
   deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward:
   a just penalty.
6. in accordance with standards or requirements;
   proper or right:
   just proportions.
7. (esp. in Biblical use) righteous.
8. actual, real, or genuine.

adv. 

9. within a brief preceding time;
   but a moment before:
   The sun just came out.
10. exactly or precisely:
    This is just what I mean.
11. by a narrow margin;
    barely:
    The arrow just missed the mark.
12. only or merely:
    He was just a clerk until he became ambitious.
13. actually;
    really;
    positively:
    The weather is just glorious.

• Latin jūstus righteous, equivalent. to jūs law, right + -tus adjective, adjectival suffix
• Middle English 1325–75

Synonyms

• 1. upright; equitable, fair, impartial.
• 3. legitimate, legal.
• 4. accurate, exact; honest.
• 5. merited, appropriate, condign, suited, apt, due.

Antonyms

• 1. biased.
• 4. untrue.
• 5. unjustified.

just²  ( just), n., v.i. 

1. World History joust.

just′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

just adjective / dʒʌst/

1. fair or impartial in action or judgment
2. (as collective noun; preceded by the): the just
3. conforming to high moral standards; honest
4. consistent with justice: a just action
5. rightly applied or given; deserved: a just reward
6. legally valid; lawful: a just inheritance

adverb / dʒʌst (unstressed) dʒəst/

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. just about ⇒ at the point of starting (to do something)
7. very nearly; almost: I've just about had enough
8. just a moment, just a second, just a minute ⇒ an expression requesting the hearer to wait or pause for a brief period of time
9. just now ⇒ a very short time ago
10. at this moment
11. in a little while
12. just so ⇒ arranged with precision

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin jūstus righteous, from jūs justice

ˈjustly adverb

ˈjustness noun