just Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective used especially of what is legally or ethically right or proper or fitting
    • a just and lasting peace"- A.Lincoln
    • a kind and just man
    • a just reward
    • his just inheritance
  2. adjective fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
    equitable.
    • equitable treatment of all citizens
    • an equitable distribution of gifts among the children
  3. adjective free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
    fair.
    • a fair referee
    • fair deal
    • on a fair footing
    • a fair fight
    • by fair means or foul
  4. adjective satellite of moral excellence
    upright; good.
    • a genuinely good person
    • a just cause
    • an upright and respectable man
  5. adverb and nothing more
    but; merely; simply; only.
    • I was merely asking
    • it is simply a matter of time
    • just a scratch
    • he was only a child
    • hopes that last but a moment
  6. adverb indicating exactness or preciseness
    exactly; precisely.
    • he was doing precisely (or exactly) what she had told him to do
    • it was just as he said--the jewel was gone
    • it has just enough salt
  7. adverb only a moment ago
    just now.
    • he has just arrived
    • the sun just now came out
  8. adverb absolutely
    simply.
    • I just can't take it anymore
    • he was just grand as Romeo
    • it's simply beautiful!
  9. adverb only a very short time before
    scarce; scarcely; barely; hardly.
    • they could barely hear the speaker
    • we hardly knew them
    • just missed being hit
    • had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open
    • would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave"- W.B.Yeats
  10. adverb exactly at this moment or the moment described;
    • we've just finished painting the walls, so don't touch them

WordNet

Just adjective
Etymology
F. juste, L. justus, fr. jus right, law, justice; orig., that which is fitting; akin to Skr. yu to join. Cf. Injury, Judge, Jury, Giusto.
Definitions
  1. Conforming or conformable to rectitude or justice; not doing wrong to any; violating no right or obligation; upright; righteous; honest; true; -- said both of persons and things. "O just but severe law!" Shak.
    There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Eccl. vii. 20.
    Just balances, just weights, . . . shall ye have. Lev. xix. 36.
    How should man be just with God? Job ix. 2.
    We know your grace to be a man. Just and upright. Shak.
  2. Not transgressing the requirement of truth and propriety; conformed to the truth of things, to reason, or to a proper standard; exact; normal; reasonable; regular; due; as, a just statement; a just inference.
    Just of thy word, in every thought sincere. Pope.
    The prince is here at hand: pleaseth your lordship To meet his grace just distance 'tween our armies. Shak.
    He was a comely personage, a little above just stature.q> Bacon.
    Fire fitted with just materials casts a constant heat. Jer. Taylor.
    When all The war shall stand ranged in its just array. Addison.
    Their named alone would make a just volume. Burton.
  3. Rendering or disposed to render to each one his due; equitable; fair; impartial; as, just judge.
    Men are commonly so just to virtue and goodness as to praise it in others, even when they do not practice it themselves. Tillotson.
    H. W. Poole. Syn. -- Equitable; upright; honest; true; fair; impartial; proper; exact; normal; orderly; regular.
Just adverb
Definitions
  1. Precisely; exactly; -- in place, time, or degree; neither more nor less than is stated.
    And having just enough, not covet more. Dryden.
    The god Pan guided my hand just to the heart of the beast. Sir P. Sidney.
    To-night, at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one. Shak.
  2. Closely; nearly; almost.
    Just at the point of death. Sir W. Temple.
  3. Barely; merely; scarcely; only; by a very small space or time; as, he just missed the train; just too late.
    A soft Etesian gale But just inspired and gently swelled the sail. Dryden.
Just intransitive verb
Etymology
See Joust.
Definitions
  1. To joust. Fairfax.
Just noun
Definitions
  1. A joust. Dryden.

Webster 1913