jest

noun

(archaic) An act performed for amusement; a joke.

(archaic) Someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.

(obsolete) A deed; an action; a gest.

(obsolete) A mask; a pageant; an interlude.

verb

To tell a joke; to talk in a playful manner; to make fun of something or someone.

adverb

(African-American Vernacular, Southern US, Shropshire) Pronunciation spelling of just. [Only, simply, merely.]

Roots

gerogest- · Latin · carry, bear

Synonyms for jest

joken japen laughn waggeryn railleryn wisecrackn drolleryn badinagen pleasantryn persiflagen witticismn mockeryn

Synonyms & related words for jest

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of jest — including joke, jape, laugh, waggery, raillery, wisecrack. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to jest

Explore words related to jest — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include jocularity, japery, quipper, waggishly, jocose, jestingly, facetious, jokily. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for jest

Common synonyms for jest include joke, jape, laugh, waggery, raillery, wisecrack, drollery, badinage — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does jest come from?

The word jest breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root gest-, from Latin gero (“carry, bear”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.