[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/just/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [J](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/j/) / just # just adverb (just); adjective (just — fair) «just» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Just means exactly: «just right», «just 2 metres». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#m1) 2. Just means only: «just 3 dollars», «just one more». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#m2) 3. Just means a very short time ago: «he has just left». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#m3) 4. Just means barely: «just in time», «just enough». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#m4) 5. Just (adjective) means fair and right: «a just king». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#m5) 6. (casual) «Just» softens or fills: «I just think…», «just saying»; «just kidding» means I was joking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#m6) 7. (casual, rough) «Just» makes an order sharper: «just shut up», «just do it», «just split 'em». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#m7) 8. (formal) «Merely», «precisely», «solely» and «equitable» (fair) are stiff words for just. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#m8) ### In the lessons In school maths: a small word that marks «only» or «exactly», or a change that has just happened; «just enough» means nothing left over. In everyday life: «just a minute», «just kidding», «I was just going to...». In stories: a just ruler is fair to everyone. In casual talk: «just saying», «jk» (just kidding). In the exam voice: «precisely 2 metres», «a mere 3 dollars», «an equitable distribution». Phrases: «just in time», «just enough», «just now», «just about», «just like», «just in case». ### Examples - She has just 3 dollars left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x1) - He just bought 5 pens. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x2) - There is just enough cake for 8 children. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x3) - It is just 2 metres long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x4) - We got to the station just in time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x5) - The porridge was just right. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x6) - Wait just a minute, please. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x7) - The judge was wise and just. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x8) - just kidding, i've got 4 not 2 lol (casual) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x9) - Sod it, just split 'em, 3 each. (rough) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x10) - Just do your homework and stop moaning. (rough) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x11) - The cake is divided equitably among 8 children such that precisely no portion remains; determine the original number of slices given 3 per child. (formal exam) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x12) - The girls arrived just in time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/#x13) ### Note «Just» goes before the main verb: «I have just finished». «Justice» is the noun of the fair sense. Maths: «just enough» means no leftover (exact division). «Just» = «only» does not change the number. Trap: do not read «just» as a sign to add or subtract. Trap: «just kidding» means the number before it was not real — use the corrected one. Formal «merely» = just (only); «precisely» = just (exactly); «equitable» = just (fair). ## In Jewish tradition In the Torah "just" mostly means fair and honest, as in just weights and balances. In Job it also means being in the right, or righteous, before God. **Interpretation.** Tradition teaches honest scales and measures as a basic law. Cheating in business is seen as a serious sin against God. Job's friends ask whether any human can be righteous before God, a question the book explores. ### Examples - The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. (Torah DEU.32.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/just/#x1) - Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. (Torah LEV.19.36, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/just/#x2) - A perfect and just weight shalt thou have; a perfect and just measure shalt thou have; that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Torah DEU.25.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/just/#x3) - 'Shall mortal man be just before God? (Writings JOB.4.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/just/#x4) - How then can man be just with God? (Writings JOB.25.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/just/#x5) - And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty — (Writings JOB.34.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/just/#x6) ### Note «Just» goes before the main verb: «I have just finished». «Justice» is the noun of the fair sense. Maths: «just enough» means no leftover (exact division). «Just» = «only» does not change the number. Trap: do not read «just» as a sign to add or subtract. Trap: «just kidding» means the number before it was not real — use the corrected one. Formal «merely» = just (only); «precisely» = just (exactly); «equitable» = just (fair). ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «just» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/just/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«just» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/just.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «just» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/just/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«just» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/just.html) on Mova free.