Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Morally right and fair; based on what is morally right or reasonable: A "just" action, decision, or cause is one that is fair and deserved.
   • Deserved or appropriate in the circumstances: A "just" reward or punishment is exactly what is merited, neither more nor less.
   • Valid within the law; lawful: A "just" claim or title is one that is legally correct.

2. Adverb:

   • Exactly; precisely: Used to indicate an exact point in space, time, or degree.
   • A very short time ago; very recently: Used to indicate that an action happened in the immediate past.
   • Only; merely; simply: Used to indicate something is no more or no less than stated, often minimizing its importance or extent.
   • Barely; by a narrow margin: Used to indicate something was almost not achieved or happened.
   • (Informal) Really; absolutely; completely: Used for emphasis, often to express strong feeling.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • He is a just and honorable man. (He is a fair and morally upright man.)
  • The judge made a just decision based on the evidence. (The judge's decision was fair.)
  • After all his hard work, a promotion was his just reward. (The promotion was the appropriate and deserved reward for his work.)

• Adverb:

  • The ball landed just inside the line. (It landed exactly inside the line.)
  • I've just finished my homework. (I finished my homework a moment ago.)
  • It's just a suggestion, you don't have to follow it. (It is only a suggestion.)
  • We just managed to catch the last bus. (We barely caught it; we almost missed it.)
  • The view from the top is just beautiful! (The view is absolutely beautiful.)

Advanced Usage

• "just about": almost; very nearly.
  • I'm just about ready to leave. (I am almost ready.)
• "just as": exactly in the way that; at the same moment that.
  • Do it just as I showed you. (Do it exactly the way I demonstrated.)
  • He arrived just as I was leaving. (He arrived at the precise moment I was leaving.)
• "just in case": as a precaution; if it should happen that.
  • Take an umbrella, just in case it rains. (Take it as a precaution against rain.)
• "just now": a very short time ago; at this exact moment.
  • I saw him just now. (I saw him a moment ago.)
  • I'm busy just now, can I call you back? (I am busy at this precise moment.)

Variants and Related Words

• Justice (n): The quality of being fair and reasonable; the administration of the law.
  • The court should be a place of justice.
• Justify (v): To show or prove to be right or reasonable.
  • Can you justify your decision?
• Justifiable (adj): Able to be shown to be right or reasonable.
  • His anger was justifiable under the circumstances.
• Justly (adv): In a way that is fair and deserved.
  • He was justly praised for his bravery.

Synonyms

• Adjective: fair, equitable, impartial, rightful, deserved, merited, proper.
• Adverb: exactly, precisely, recently, only, merely, simply, barely, absolutely.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Just deserts: (Often misspelled as "just desserts") The punishment or reward that someone deserves.
  • The criminal finally got his just deserts.
• Just the ticket: Exactly what is needed or wanted.
  • A cup of hot tea was just the ticket on a cold day.
• Just so: Arranged very neatly and precisely.
  • She likes everything to be just so.
• It's just as well: It is fortunate or good that something happened (or didn't happen).
  • It started raining, so it's just as well we cancelled the picnic.

Adjective

1. of moral excellence
   • a genuinely good person
   • a just cause
   • an upright and respectable man
2. free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
   • a fair referee
   • fair deal
   • on a fair footing
   • a fair fight
   • by fair means or foul
3. fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
   • equitable treatment of all citizens
   • an equitable distribution of gifts among the children
4. 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

Adverb

1. exactly at this moment or the moment described;
   • we've just finished painting the walls, so don't touch them
2. only a very short time before
   • they could barely hear the speaker
   • we hardly knew them
   • just missed being hit
   • had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open
   • would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave- W.B.Yeats
3. absolutely
   • I just can't take it anymore
   • he was just grand as Romeo
   • it's simply beautiful!
4. only a moment ago
   • he has just arrived
   • the sun just now came out
5. indicating exactness or preciseness
   • he was doing precisely (or exactly) what she had told him to do
   • it was just as he said--the jewel was gone
   • it has just enough salt
6. and nothing more
   • I was merely asking
   • it is simply a matter of time
   • just a scratch
   • he was only a child
   • hopes that last but a moment