1
a
: something said or done to provoke laughter
especially
: a brief oral narrative with a climactic humorous twist
b(1)
: the humorous or ridiculous element in something
(2)
: an instance of jesting : kidding
can't take a joke
c
d
2
: something not to be taken seriously : a trifling matter
consider his skiing a joke—
Harold Callender
—often used in negative constructionsHarold Callenderit is no joke to be lost in the desert
Synonyms
Examples of joke in a Sentence
Noun
She meant it as a joke, but many people took her seriously.
They played a harmless joke on him.
They are always making jokes about his car.
I heard a funny joke yesterday.
the punch line of a joke
I didn't get the joke.
That exam was a joke.
Their product became a joke in the industry.
He's in danger of becoming a national joke.
Verb
My friends would joke about the uniform I had to wear at work.
She joked about the possibility of losing her job.
I thought he was joking when he said he might quit, but it turned out that he really meant it.
Don't take it seriously: I was only joking.
She spent a few minutes joking with reporters after giving her speech.
She joked that she could always get work as a truck driver if she lost her job.
Recent Examples on the WebDaniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
The clothing might be exaggerated, but what the genre does lay bare is the thin line between trying too hard and becoming the butt of the joke: being stylish and fashionable are not the same thing.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke 
Noun
Sure, that might be a layer of the humor at times, but the host is careful to situate himself and his own discomfort as the real target of the joke.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
The clothing might be exaggerated, but what the genre does lay bare is the thin line between trying too hard and becoming the butt of the joke: being stylish and fashionable are not the same thing.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'joke.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near joke
Cite this Entry
“Joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joke. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
joke
1 of 2 noun1
a
: something said or done to cause laughter
especially
: a brief story with a humorous twist
b
: the humorous element in something
c
: good-natured kidding
can't take a joke
2
: something not to be taken seriously
that exam was a joke
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