# just

/ˈdʒəst/ (US) · /dʒˈʌst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/just
Updated: 2026-08-14

## Senses

### 1. a short time ago

adverb · CEFR A1

used to say that something happened very recently.

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

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

### 2. only

adverb · CEFR A2

used to mean 'only' or 'simply'.

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

- I am not hungry; I just want a glass of water.
- The researcher argued that the results were not a coincidence but just the natural outcome of the variables they had introduced.

### 3. exactly

adverb · CEFR B1

used to mean 'exactly' or 'precisely'.

For teachers: indicates exactness or precise correspondence in quality, quantity, or time.

- This is just what I needed to fix the broken chair.
- The timing of the intervention was just right, preventing the minor technical glitch from escalating into a full system failure.

### 4. barely

adverb · CEFR B1

used to say that something almost did not happen.

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

- We just caught the train as the doors were closing.
- The athlete just managed to break the world record, finishing a mere hundredth of a second ahead of the previous time.

### 5. emphasis

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

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

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

- The view from the top of the mountain was just beautiful.
- The sheer scale of the cathedral is just incredible when you see it in person for the first time.

### 6. fair and right

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

fair and morally right.

For teachers: guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness; equitable.

- The judge made a just decision that everyone in the courtroom respected.
- 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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.