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 Web
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Disney vetoed one joke from being in Deadpool & Wolverine, and now fans finally know what was deemed too-far for the studio.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Becca Longmire, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
After the game, the wide receiver took to social media and seemingly joked about the incident.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke 
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Noun
But an anonymous source cited by TMZ said the comments Foxx made about Combs were part of the comedy routine, and a joke.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Disney vetoed one joke from being in Deadpool & Wolverine, and now fans finally know what was deemed too-far for the studio.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
Her famous mom's voice could also be heard joking with the toddler off-camera.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
After the game, the wide receiver took to social media and seemingly joked about the incident.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke
Dictionary Entries Near joke
Cite this Entry
“Joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joke. Accessed 11 Dec. 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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