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just

adv. · adj.
US //ˈdʒəst// UK //dʒˈʌst// just
  1. 1 a short time ago (adv.)
    A1 Beginner

    used to say that something happened very recently.

    denotes that an action was completed in the immediate past; frequently used with the present perfect in British English.

    Example

    I have just seen Sarah in the hallway, so she must be in her office now.

    Example

    The news of the merger has just been announced, leaving many employees concerned about their future roles within the new corporate structure.

    Usage

    In British English, this sense usually requires the present perfect tense, while American English often uses the past simple.
    Pitfall
    I just have finished my lunch.
    I have just finished my lunch.

    In the present perfect, 'just' usually goes between the auxiliary verb 'have' and the past participle.

  2. 2 only (adv.)
    A2 Elementary

    used to mean 'only' or 'simply'.

    functions as a focus adverb to indicate a limit or to simplify a statement.

    Example

    I am not hungry; I just want a glass of water.

    Example

    The researcher argued that the results were not a coincidence but just the natural outcome of the variables they had introduced.
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  1. 3 exactly (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate

    used to mean 'exactly' or 'precisely'.

    indicates exactness or precise correspondence in quality, quantity, or time.

    Example

    This is just what I needed to fix the broken chair.

    Example

    The timing of the intervention was just right, preventing the minor technical glitch from escalating into a full system failure.
  2. 4 barely (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate

    used to say that something almost did not happen.

    indicates that a state or action was achieved by a very narrow margin.

    Example

    We just caught the train as the doors were closing.

    Example

    The athlete just managed to break the world record, finishing a mere hundredth of a second ahead of the previous time.
  3. 5 emphasis (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    used to make a statement stronger, like 'really' or 'completely'.

    used as an intensifier to add emphasis to an adjective or a statement.

    Example

    The view from the top of the mountain was just beautiful.

    Example

    The sheer scale of the cathedral is just incredible when you see it in person for the first time.
  4. 6 fair and right (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    fair and morally right.

    guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness; equitable.

    Example

    The judge made a just decision that everyone in the courtroom respected.

    Example

    The philosopher argued that a just society must prioritise the needs of its most vulnerable members over the accumulation of private wealth.

    Usage

    Often used in legal or philosophical contexts regarding rights and punishments.
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