Meaning & use
joust
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitive
To fight on horseback with a lance against an opponent, typically as a medieval sport or contest.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'with' or 'against' to name the opponent: joust with a knight.
Patterns
- joust with someone
- joust against someone
- joust for something
In the tournament, two knights would joust with long lances.
He learned to joust against experienced riders.
They jousted for the favor of the queen.
verbintransitivefigurative
To engage in a sharp verbal contest or exchange, often in a playful or competitive way.
Grammar: Used figuratively; often followed by 'with' to name the person you are arguing with.
Patterns
- joust with someone
- joust over something
The two politicians jousted with each other over the budget.
Reporters jousted with the spokesman about the new policy.
nouncountable
A formal combat or contest between two knights on horseback armed with lances.
Grammar: Countable; can be used with 'a' or in the plural: a joust, the jousts.
Patterns
- a joust between someone
- take part in a joust
The joust was the highlight of the medieval fair.
Knights prepared for the joust by polishing their armor.
Word forms
| third person singular | jousts |
|---|---|
| past tense | jousted |
| past participle | jousted |
| -ing form | jousting |
| plural | jousts |
Common combinations
- joust with a knight
- He jousted with a knight from the neighboring kingdom.
- joust against someone
- She jousted against the champion and won.
- joust for honor
- They jousted for honor and glory.
- a jousting tournament
- The jousting tournament attracted crowds from all over.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- jouster noun
- A person who jousts.
- jousting noun
- The activity or sport of jousting.
Commonly confused: joust or jostle? joust or just?
joust vs jostle
Means to push or bump against someone in a crowd; not related to combat.
joust vs just
Means fair or only; pronounced the same but different meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'joust' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses 'joust' as an intransitive verb meaning to fight on horseback with lances. Option 1 is wrong because 'joust' does not take a direct object like that. Option 2 is a figurative use but 'joust about the weather' is not a common collocation; 'joust' usually implies a sharp or competitive exchange. Option 3 is wrong because 'joust' is not used for throwing a ball.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “joust”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.