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
2
a(1)
: acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good : righteous
a just war
(2)
: being what is merited : deserved
a just punishment
b
: legally correct : lawful
just title to an estate
justly adverb

just

2 of 3

adverb

ˈjəst How to pronounce just (audio)
ˈjist,
ˈjest,
 also without  t
1
a
: exactly, precisely
just right
b
: very recently
the bell just rang
2
a
: by a very small margin : barely
just too late
b
: immediately, directly
just west of here
3
a
: only, simply
just last year
just be yourself
b
: quite, very
just wonderful
4
: perhaps, possibly
it just might work

archaic variant of joust

Phrases
just about
: almost
the work is just about done
Choose the Right Synonym for just

fair, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, objective mean free from favor toward either or any side.

fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

a fair decision

just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

a just settlement of territorial claims

equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.

the equitable distribution of the property

impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

an impartial third party

unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

your unbiased opinion

dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

a dispassionate summation of the facts

objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one's own interest or feelings.

I can't be objective about my own child

upright, honest, just, conscientious, scrupulous, honorable mean having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right.

upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Although Carter was not a man who spoke regularly about the need to maximize the general welfare or the greatest good via right actions and just institutions, in an important sense everything that Carter, a man of faith, did seemed designed to have great consequences on human life. Dave Anderson, Baltimore Sun, 31 Dec. 2024 Biden attempted to blatantly subvert the will of the American people by racing to auction off border wall materials for just pennies on the dollar, which would force Trump to buy them back at EXPONENTIALLY higher markups. David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
Adverb
Keltner got to his ground blind just after 6 a.m., well before daylight. Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 3 Jan. 2025 This cooling-off period gives you time to evaluate whether the item is truly necessary or just a fleeting desire. True Tamplin, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for just 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French juste, from Latin justus, from jus right, law; akin to Sanskrit yos welfare

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of just was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near just

Cite this Entry

“Just.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/just. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

1
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
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
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English just "reasonable, proper," from early French juste and Latin justus (same meaning), from Latin jus "right, law" — related to judge, jury, prejudice

Legal Definition

just

adjective
: conforming to law or to the underlying principles of law: as
a
: conforming to reason or a standard of correctness
just sanctions cannot be excessive in relation to the offense
b
: conforming with what is deemed fair or good
the award of attorney's fees was just
the application of this rule retroactively is not just
justly adverb
justness noun
Etymology

Adjective

Latin justus lawful, merited, from jus right, law

More from Merriam-Webster on just

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