1
a
: having a basis in or conforming to fact or reason : reasonable
had just reason to believe he was in danger
b
: conforming to a standard of correctness : proper
just proportions
c
archaic
: faithful to an original
justly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of just in a Sentence
Adjective
a just cause for war
The college treated the allegation with just seriousness.
They got their just punishment for the crime.
Adverb
The store has just the tool you need.
That's just what I expected.
You have to accept me just as I am.
This shirt fits just right.
She called him a liar and told him he was just like all the other men she'd met.
He was just here a minute ago.
She had just returned when he entered.
I was just going to telephone you!
She's just finishing a letter, and she'll be with you shortly.
I arrived just in time to see him win.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyle Denis, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
Watch on Deadline Full of disappointment, and with the weekend now all to themselves, they’re given a slim consolation prize… an opportunity to pitch a sequel idea early the next week, which leaves them with just days to conjure some inspiration for a career saving follow up.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
The Bengals just punted — the third straight drive (by either team) that’s ended in a punt and fourth overall.
—NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for just 
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Adjective
With just days to go before the reveal of the 2025 Grammy nominations, a few of the hottest stars from across Caribbean music could earn their first nomination for best reggae album.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
Watch on Deadline Full of disappointment, and with the weekend now all to themselves, they’re given a slim consolation prize… an opportunity to pitch a sequel idea early the next week, which leaves them with just days to conjure some inspiration for a career saving follow up.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Adverb
To name just one example: After an opening act filled with lurid cartel violence, Emilia Pérez gives us a comic number about gender-reassignment surgery.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
The Bengals just punted — the third straight drive (by either team) that’s ended in a punt and fourth overall.
—NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for just
Articles Related to just
Dictionary Entries Near just
Cite this Entry
“Just.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/just. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
just
1 of 2 adjective1
a
: well-founded, reasonable
a just comment
b
: being in agreement with a standard of correctness : proper
a just price
2
a
: morally right or good : righteous
a just cause for war
b
: being deserved
just punishment
3
: legally right
a just title
justly
adverb
just
2 of 2 adverb
(ˌ)jəst 
(ˌ)jist,
(ˌ)jest
1
a
: exactly sense 1, precisely
just right
b
: very recently
the bell just rang
2
a
: by a small amount : barely
just over the line
b
: immediately sense 1, directly
just west of here
3
a
: nothing more than : only
just a note
b
: quite sense 1, very
just wonderful
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