Meaning & use
jut
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To stick out sharply past the edge or surface of something around it.
Grammar: No object: the thing itself juts. It is usually followed by out, into, or from.
Patterns
- jut out
- jut into something
- jut from something
- jut out of something
A rocky ledge juts out over the water, giving a clear view of the bay.
His chin juts forward when he is concentrating.
Two iron bars jut from the wall where the sign used to hang.
verbtransitive
To push something out so that it sticks beyond a line or surface.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with out: you jut your jaw out.
Patterns
- jut something out
- jut something forward
She jutted her chin out and refused to apologize.
He jutted his elbow forward to make room on the crowded bus.
Word forms
| third person singular | juts |
|---|---|
| past tense | jutted |
| past participle | jutted |
| -ing form | jutting |
Common combinations
- jut out
- The balcony juts out far enough to shade the whole doorway.
- jut into
- A narrow pier juts into the lake near the boathouse.
- jut from
- Sharp nails jutted from the broken boards.
- a jutting jaw
- The portrait shows a man with a strong, jutting jaw.
- jut out over
- The cliff juts out over the beach, so swimmers stay away.
Synonyms and how they differ
- protrude
- More formal and often used of parts of the body or objects; 'jut' sounds sharper and more angular.
- stick out
- The everyday phrasal verb; 'jut' is more literary and usually suggests a hard, pointed shape.
- project
- A technical or formal choice, common in architecture; 'jut' is shorter and more vivid in description.
Opposites
Word family
- jutting adjective
- Sticking out, as in 'a jutting rock'.
Commonly confused: jut or jot? jut or jute?
jut vs jot
'Jot' means to write something down quickly ('jot it down') or a very small amount ('not a jot'). It sounds the same as 'jut' in American English but has a completely different meaning.
jut vs jute
'Jute' is a rough fiber used for sacks and rope; it is a noun, while 'jut' is a verb.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Jut' is intransitive and normally takes 'out' plus a preposition such as 'over': 'juts out over the sea'. Option 2 puts the words in the wrong order, option 3 leaves out the needed preposition, and option 4 wrongly makes 'jut' take an object.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “jut”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.