Tra từ just - Từ điển tiếng Anh - Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary

just UK US [dʒʌst] adverb

NOW

1. <E > now, very soon, or very recently
• "Where are you, Jim?" "I'm just coming."
• I'll just finish this, then we can go.
• He'd just got into the bath when the phone rang.
• The children arrived at school just as (= at the same moment as) the bell was ringing.
• The doctor will be with you in just a minute/moment/second (= very soon).
• It's just after/past/UK also gone (= has recently become) ten (o'clock).
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Now ↑In the future and soon ↑In the past
2. just now
A. <E > a very short time ago
• Who was that at the door just now?
Thesaurus⁺: ↑In the past
B. <E > at the present time
• John's in the bath just now - can he call you back?
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Now

Common errors:
Warning: check your word order!
Just usually goes directly before the main verb in a sentence.
✗ I just have returned from a conference in Brighton.
• I have just returned from a conference in Brighton.
But if the main verb is am/is/are/was or were, just usually goes directly after it
✗ I just was going to phone you.
• I was just going to phone you.

• I went to that new club that's just opened.
• We've just bought a new rug for the living room.
• They've just come back from Amsterdam.
• Hello there - we were just talking about you.
• I've just tried ringing him but there was no answer.

EXACTLY

3. <E > exactly or equally
• This carpet would be just right for the dining room.
• The twins look just like each other.
• Things turned out just as I expected.
• You've got just as many toys as your brother.
• Thank you, it's just what I've always wanted.
• I can't help you just now/yet.
• Just then, the lights went out.
• I can just imagine Sophie as a police officer.
• informal approving That dress is just you (= suits you very well).
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Accurate and exact

• Luckily, he had just the right amount of money with him.
• This paint is just the right colour for my kitchen.
• He always knows just the right thing to say.
• It was just the right weather for a marathon.
• I'm just as upset about it as you are.

ONLY

4. <E > only; simply
• "Would you like another drink?" "OK, just one more."
• It was just a joke.
• His daughter's just a baby/just a few weeks old.
• We'll just have to (= The only thing we can do is) wait and see what happens.
• She lives just down the road (= very near).
• Just because you're older than me doesn't mean you can tell me what to do.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Merely and barely ↑Almost
5. <I > used to make a statement or order stronger
• He just won't do as he's told.
• It's just too expensive.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Very and extreme ↑Complete and whole ↑Intensifying expressions
6. used to reduce the force of a statement and to suggest that it is not very important
• Can I just borrow the scissors for a second?
• I just wanted to ask you if you're free this afternoon.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Merely and barely ↑Almost

• We were just chatting about what we did last weekend.
• We sat in a bar most of the evening just chewing the fat.
• I'm just chilling out in front of the TV.
• "What did you talk about?" "Oh, just chit-chat."
• He's just trying to advance his own career.

ALMOST

7. <E > almost not or almost
• We arrived at the airport just in time to catch the plane.
• This dress (only) just fits.
• "Can you see the stage?" "Yes, only just/just about."
• I've just about finished painting the living room.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Merely and barely ↑Almost
8. be just possible
If something is just possible, there is a slight chance that it will happen
• It's just possible that we might be going away that weekend.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Possible and probable

• It's just conceivable that the hospital made a mistake.
• We just managed to put out the fire.
• They only just arrived in time.
• I could only just hear what she was saying.
• There was just enough food for everyone.

VERY

9. <I > very; completely
• It's just dreadful what happened to her.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Very and extreme ↑Complete and whole ↑Intensifying expressions

• Don't you just adore lying in a hot bath?
• My wedding day was just the happiest day of my life.
• I find I just can't communicate with her.
• Instant coffee just doesn't compare with freshly ground coffee.
• He had so much pressure on him in his job that eventually he just couldn't cope.
Idioms: Isn't it they just? ▪ It's just one of those things ▪ Just my luck! ▪ just a minute ▪ just as well ▪ just like that ▪ might just as well

adjective
fair; morally correct
• The judge's sentence was perfectly just in the circumstances.
• I don't really think he had just cause to complain.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Justice and fairness
Idiom: get your just deserts
Derived: justly ▪ justness

noun UK US
the just
old use people who behave in a morally correct way
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Justice and fairness