# just
## English
### Etymology 1

From Middle English juste, from Old French juste, from Latin iūstus (“just, lawful, rightful, true, due, proper, moderate”), from Proto-Italic *jowestos, related to Latin iūs (“law, right”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Compare Scots juist (“just”), Saterland Frisian juust (“just”), West Frisian just (“just”), Dutch juist (“just”), German Low German jüst (“jüst”), German just (“just”), Danish just (“just”), Swedish just (“just”). Doublet of giusto.

#### Alternative forms

* jes, jes', jest, jist, jus'
* iust (obsolete)

#### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA: /d͡ʒʌst/
* Audio (General American):(file)
* (adverb, unstressed) IPA: /d͡ʒəs(t)/
* (dialectal) IPA: /d͡ʒɛst/, /d͡ʒɪst/, /d͡ʒʊst/ (see jest, jist)
* Rhymes: -ʌst

#### Adjective

just (comparative juster or more just, superlative justest or most just)
* Factually right, correct; factual.
    It is a just assessment of the facts.
* Rationally right, correct.
* Morally right; upright, righteous, equitable; fair.
    It looks like a just solution at first glance.
** 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):My lord, we know your grace to be a man Just and upright.
** 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Colossians 4:1:Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
** 1744, Alexander Shiels [i.e., Alexander Shields], “Period VI. Containing the Testimony through the Continued Tract of the Present Deformation, from the Year 1660 to this Day.”, in A Hind Let Loose: Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland, for the Interest of Christ; with the True State thereof in All Its Periods: [...], Edinburgh: Reprinted by R. Drummond and Company, and sold by William Gray bookbinder in the Grassmarket, and several others, &c., →OCLC, pages 167–168:Here is a Proclamation for a Prince: that proclaims him in whoſe name it is emitted [James II of England], to be the greateſt Tyrant that ever lived in the world, and their Revolt who have diſowned him to be the juſteſt that ever was.
** 1900 December – 1901 August, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “chapter 23”, in The First Men in the Moon, London: George Newnes, […], published 1901, →OCLC:Looking back over my previously written account of these things, I must insist that I have been altogether juster to Cavor than he has been to me.
* Proper, adequate.

##### Synonyms

* right, correct
* righteous, equitable
* proper, adequate

##### Antonyms

* unjust

##### Derived terms

* just cause
* just compensation
* just deserts
* just intonation
* justly
* justness
* just reward
* just-world fallacy
* just-world hypothesis
* sleep of the just

##### Related terms

* justice

##### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

#### Adverb

just (not comparable)
* Only, simply, merely.
    Just plant a few tomatoes, unless you can freeze or dry them.
    He calls it vermilion, but it's just red to me.
** 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:Philander went into the next room, which was just a lean-to hitched on to the end of the shanty, and came back with a salt mackerel that dripped brine like a rainstorm. Then he put the coffee pot on the stove and rummaged out a loaf of dry bread and some hardtack.
** 2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52:From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. […] But viewed from high up in one of the growing number of skyscrapers in Sri Lanka’s capital, it is clear that something extraordinary is happening: China is creating a shipping hub just 200 miles from India’s southern tip.
** 2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the profound meets the profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37:Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths.
** Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.
    I spent two hours cooking my favorite recipe, just to burn the rice and ruin the meal.
    I helped him out, just for him to betray me.
* (sentence adverb) Used to reduce the force of an imperative; simply.
    Just follow the directions on the box.
* (sentence adverb) Used to increase the force of an imperative; simply, without questioning.
    I'm tired of playing games – just get it done.
* Used to convey a less serious or formal tone
    I just called to say "hi".
* (chiefly Christianity) Used to show humility, earnestness, devotion, etc., during prayer or worship.
    Lord, we just want to thank You and praise Your Name.
    Heavenly Father, we ask you to just enfold this family with your love as they grieve.
* (degree) Absolutely, positively
    It is just splendid!
    just fine
* Barely, hardly, scarcely.
** Moments ago, only very recently.
    They just left, but you may leave a message at the desk.
*** 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:Philander went into the next room […] and came back with a salt mackerel […] . Next he put the mackerel in a fry-pan, and the shanty began to smell like a Banks boat just in from a v'yage.
** By a narrow margin; closely; narrowly; almost not.
    The fastball just missed my head!
    The fire department arrived just in time.
    The piece just might fit.
*** 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 14, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime.
* Exactly, precisely, perfectly.
    He wants everything just right for the big day.
** 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Fourteenth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:And having just enough, not covet more.
** c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Second Booke] Chapter 19”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 122, recto:The god Pan […] guided my hand so just to the heart of the beast.
** c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]:To-night, at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one.
** 2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.

##### Synonyms

* (only): merely, simply; see also Thesaurus:merely
* (recently): freshly, lately, newly
* (by a narrow margin): barely, hardly, narrowly, scarcely; see also Thesaurus:slightly
* (exactly): on the dot, smack-dab; see also Thesaurus:exactly

##### Derived terms

* age is just a number
* denial ain't just a river in Egypt
* denial is not just a river in Egypt
* denial isn't just a river in Egypt
* die just how one lived
* die just like one lived
* die just the way one lived
* I just work here
* is it just me
* is that a gun in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me
* it is always darkest just before the dawn
* it is darkest just before the dawn
* it is not just you
* just about
* just a minute
* just another pretty face
* just a sec
* just a second
* just as soon as
* just assume
* just as well
* just because
* just ducky
* just enough
* just folks
* just friends
* just gone
* just in
* just in case
* just-in-time
* just in time
* just kidding
* just like that
* just my luck
* just now
* just on
* just one of those things
* just plain folks
* just saying
* just say no
* just shoot me
* just so
* just-so story
* just then
* just the same
* just the ticket
* just what the doctor ordered
* just wondering
* just yet
* just you wait
* my very easy method just speeds up naming planets
* my very educated mother just served us nachos
* my very educated mother just served us nine pizzas
* my very educated mother just served us nine pumpkins
* my very educated mother just served us noodles
* my very excellent mother just served us nine pizzas
* not just another pretty face
* not just a pretty face
* only just
* over-just
* shit just got real
* so crazy it just might work
* so crazy it might just work
* sometimes a cigar is just a cigar
* that's just me
* the darkest hour is always just before the dawn
* the darkest hour is just before the dawn
* this just in
* you just had to

##### Translations
#### Interjection

just
* (slang) Expressing dismay or discontent.

### Etymology 2

Variation of joust, presumably ultimately from Latin iuxta (“near, besides”).

#### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA: /d͡ʒʌst/
* Audio (General American):(file)
* Rhymes: -ʌst

#### Noun

just (plural justs)
* A joust, tournament.
** 1928, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter 11, in Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle‎, 1st edition, page 139:Justs and tilts were held here weekly, while the great tourneys that occurred less often were given upon a field outside the castle wall upon the floor of the valley.

#### Verb

just (third-person singular simple present justs, present participle justing, simple past and past participle justed)
* To joust, fight a tournament.
** 1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Third Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC, page 39:He iusts with her vnknowne whom he lou’d best, [...].

##### Translations
### References

* Stanley, Oma (1937) “I. Vowel Sounds in Stressed Syllables”, in The Speech of East Texas (American Speech: Reprints and Monographs; 2), New York: Columbia University Press, →DOI, →ISBN, § 12, page 27.
* “just”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
* William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “just”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.

### Anagrams

* UJTs, juts

## Catalan
### Etymology

Inherited from Old Catalan just, from Latin iūstus.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: (Central, Balearic) [ˈʒust]
* IPA: (Valencia) [ˈd͡ʒust]
* Audio:(file)

### Adjective

just (feminine justa, masculine plural justs or justos, feminine plural justes)
* fair; just
    Antonym: injust
* perfect, almost perfect

#### Derived terms

* justament
* justejar
* justesa
* justet
* preu just
* tot just

#### Related terms

* injust
* injustícia
* justícia

### Adverb

just
* justly

### Further reading

* “just” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
* “just”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025
* “just” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
* “just” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

## Estonian
### Etymology

From Middle Low German just or Swedish just. Possibly from German just. See also justament.

### Adverb

just (not comparable)
* exactly, precisely, just
    Sa tulid just parajal ajal.You came exactly at the right time.
* recently, just now, just
    Ma jõudsin just koju.I just got home.
* really (softens what has been said)
    Ta pole just töökas mees.He isn't much of a worker.

## Finnish
### Etymology

Borrowed from Swedish just.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈjust/, [ˈjus̠t]
* Rhymes: -ust
* Hyphenation: just

### Adverb

just (colloquial)
* just, exactly, precisely, perfectly
    Just niin siinä kävi.That's exactly what happened.
    Sen pitää olla just eikä melkein.It has to be just right, not almost.
* recently, just now
    Se oli just tässä.He was here just a minute ago.

### Interjection

just (colloquial)
* I see, uh-huh, oh well
    Just. Se oli sitten siinä.Oh well, I guess that's it for that then.

#### Synonyms

both:
* aivan
* juuri
* justiin
* justiinsa
* justsa
adverb:
* ihan
* tarkalleen
* täsmälleen

### Further reading

* “just”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎ (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-02

## Friulian
### Etymology

From Latin iūstus, jūstus.

### Adjective

just
* just, right, correct, proper
* exact
* adequate
* apt

#### Derived terms

* justeapont
* justeben

#### Related terms

* justâ
* juste
* justece
* justificâ
* justizie

## German
### Etymology

Derived from Latin iūste, iūstus, perhaps via Middle Dutch juust.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /jʊst/
* Audio:(file)

### Adverb

just
* (higher register) just
    Synonyms: gerade, (archaic) justament
    just in dem Moment als… ― just at the moment as…
** 1808, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil [Faust, Part One]‎:Sie ging just vorbey.(please add an English translation of this quotation)

### Further reading

* “just” in Duden online
* “just” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
* Friedrich Kluge (1989) “just”, in Elmar Seebold, editor, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache [Etymological Dictionary of the German Language] (in German), 22nd edition, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, →ISBN, page 344

## Ingrian
### Etymology

Ultimately from a Germanic language (compare Middle Low German just and Swedish just). Related to Estonian just and Finnish just.

### Pronunciation

* (Ala-Laukaa) IPA: /ˈjust/, [ˈjus̠t]
* (Soikkola) IPA: /ˈjust/, [ˈjuʃt]
* Rhymes: -ust
* Hyphenation: just

### Adverb

just
* exactly
    just niin ― just so

### References

* Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 111

## Latvian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [just]

### Verb

just (transitive, 1st conjugation, present jūtu, jūti, jūt, past jutu)
* to feel (to perceive with one's sense organs)
    just aukstumu, karstumu, sāpes ― to feel cold, heat, pain
    tā, ka nejūt zemi zem kājām ― such that s/he doesn't feel the earth under his/her feet (= very fast)
* to sense
* to palp
* to have a sensation

#### Derived terms

    prefixed verbs:
* izjust
* pajust
* sajust
    other derived terms:
* justies

## Old French
### Verb

just
* third-person singular past historic of gesir

## Romagnol
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ʝi.ˈust/

### Adjective

just m pl
* masculine plural of jóst

## Romanian
### Etymology

Borrowed from French juste, Latin jūstus, iūstus.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ʒust/

### Adjective

just m or n (feminine singular justă, masculine plural juști, feminine and neuter plural juste)
* just, correct
    Synonyms: drept, adevărat, echitabil

#### Declension
## Swedish
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /jɵst/, [ʝɵsˑt]
* Audio:(file)

### Adverb

just (not comparable)
* just (quite recently, only moments ago)
    Jag kom just hemI just got home
* exactly, precisely
    just nuright now
    Just det!That's right! (idiomatic)
    Det var just vad jag ville ha!That's just what I wanted!
    Det är just det som är problemetThat's precisely the problem
** (focus) particularly, in particular, specifically (compare similar usage in English "That's just the guy I saw" and the like)
    Just på det här området finns det gott om utrymme för förbättringarIn this particular area, there is plenty of room for improvement
    skräddarsydda lösningar för just dina behovtailor-made solutions for your specific needs
    Just idag är jag starkToday in particular I am strong / This particular day I am strong (or just "Today I am strong," putting emphasis on today) – song lyrics

#### Usage notes

Can be understood as English just except lacking the only sense. "Det är just lite regn" (It's precisely a little rain – likely nonsensical) can be understood as "It's just a little rain" if read as "It's just (precisely) a little rain," which is the natural reading in Swedish without the only sense.

#### Descendants

* → Finnish: just

#### See also

* bara (“only”) (for when English just means only – a sense Swedish just does not have)
* nättupp
* precis

### References

* just in Svensk ordbok (SO)
* just in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
* just in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)