just

/dʒəst/

/dʒəst/

Other forms: juster; justest; justs

Just means "fair." When something is morally and ethically sound, it's just. If you are a just teacher, you won't give your student an F just because his mother is rude to you.

Just might remind you of the word justice. When we describe a person, a rule, or a war as just, we mean that whatever has been done has been done for good reasons, and is fair to all sides. Just can also mean "only" or "simply." If swimming scares you, try the kiddie pool — it's just 3 feet deep. If you startle someone, say, "don't worry, it's just me." And something that happened only moments ago just happened.

Definitions of just

1. adverb

   and nothing more
   “just a scratch”

   synonyms: but, merely, only, simply
2. adverb

   absolutely
   “I just can't take it anymore”

   “he was just grand as Romeo”

   synonyms: simply
3. adverb

   indicating exactness or preciseness
   “it was just as he said--the jewel was gone”

   “it has just enough salt”

   synonyms: exactly, precisely
4. adverb

   only a very short time before
   “just missed being hit”

   synonyms: barely, hardly, scarce, scarcely
5. adverb

   only a moment ago
   “he has just arrived”

   “the sun just now came out”

   synonyms: just now
6. adverb

   exactly at this moment or the moment described
   “we've just finished painting the walls, so don't touch them”
7. 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”

   synonyms:

   fair

   free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

   honorable, honourable

   worthy of being honored; entitled to honor and respect

   conscionable

   acceptable to your conscience

   fitting, meet

   being precisely fitting and right

   retributive, retributory, vindicatory

   given or inflicted in requital according to merits or deserts

   rightful

   legally valid

   right

   in conformance with justice or law or morality

   righteous

   characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice

   antonyms:

   unjust

   violating principles of justice

   unfair, unjust

   not fair; marked by injustice or partiality or deception

   dishonorable, dishonourable

   lacking honor or integrity; deserving dishonor

   actionable

   affording grounds for legal action

   wrongful

   not just or fair

   wrong

   contrary to conscience or morality or law

   unrighteous

   not righteous
8. adjective

   fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
   synonyms: equitable

   fair

   free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

   fair, honest

   gained or earned without cheating or stealing

   evenhanded

   without partiality

   impartial

   showing lack of favoritism
9. adjective

   of moral excellence
   “a just cause”

   synonyms: good, upright

   righteous

   characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice
10. adjective

    free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
    synonyms: fair

    antimonopoly, antitrust

    of laws and regulations; designed to protect trade and commerce from unfair business practices

    clean, sporting, sportsmanlike, sporty

    exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play

    fair-minded

    of a person; just and impartial; not prejudiced

    fair-and-square

    just and honest

    impartial

    showing lack of favoritism

    reasonable, sensible

    showing reason or sound judgment