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Meaning & use

just

adverb, adjective·Everyday

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UK/dʒʌst/
US/dʒʌst/

Meanings

  1. adverb

    A very short time ago; recently.

    Grammar: Often used with the past simple or present perfect.

    Patterns

    • just arrived
    • just finished
    • just seen

    She just left the office.

    I've just finished my homework.

    They just got married last week.

  2. adverb

    Only; simply; nothing more than.

    Grammar: Used to emphasize a small amount or limit.

    Patterns

    • just a minute
    • just one
    • just a little

    I need just five minutes to get ready.

    It's just a scratch, nothing serious.

    She's just a friend, not my girlfriend.

  3. adverb

    Exactly; precisely.

    Grammar: Used to emphasize exactness.

    Patterns

    • just what I needed
    • just the right size
    • just as I thought

    This is just what I wanted.

    The shoes are just the right size.

    It's just as I predicted.

  4. adjectivecomparable

    Morally right, fair, and deserved.

    Grammar: Can be compared: juster, justest (rare); more just, most just.

    Patterns

    • a just cause
    • a just decision
    • just punishment

    They fought for a just and peaceful society.

    The judge made a just ruling.

    It was a just reward for his hard work.

Word forms

comparativejuster
superlativejustest

Common combinations

just about
I've just about finished the report.
just in case
Take an umbrella just in case it rains.
just now
She was here just now.
just as well
It's just as well you came early.

Synonyms and how they differ

only
Similar to 'just' meaning 'only', but 'only' can be more formal and is placed differently.
exactly
Stronger than 'just' for precision; 'just' can also mean 'recently' or 'only'.
fair
As an adjective, 'fair' is close to 'just', but 'just' often implies moral rightness in a legal or formal sense.

Opposites

unjustunfair

Word family

justly adverb
In a fair and morally right way.
justice noun
Fairness and the quality of being just.
justify verb
To show that something is right or reasonable.

Commonly confused: just or justly?

just vs justly

An adverb meaning 'fairly', while 'just' as an adverb often means 'only' or 'recently'.

Practice

I ______ saw him at the store a moment ago.

Make it your own

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