just
adj
a fair or impartial in action or judgment
b (as collective n; preceded by the)
the just
2 conforming to high moral standards; honest
3 consistent with justice
a just action
4 rightly applied or given; deserved
a just reward
5 legally valid; lawful
a just inheritance
6 well-founded; reasonable
just criticism
7 correct, accurate, or true
a just account
adv (unstressed)
8 used with forms of have to indicate an action performed in the very recent past
I have just closed the door
9 at this very instant
he's just coming in to land
10 no more than; merely; only
just an ordinary car
11 exactly; precisely
that's just what I mean
12 by a small margin; barely
he just got there in time
13 (intensifier)
it's just wonderful to see you
14 Informal indeed; with a vengeance
isn't it just
a at the point of starting (to do something)
b very nearly; almost
I've just about had enough
16 ♦
just a moment, second, or minute an expression requesting the hearer to wait or pause for a brief period of time
c (S. African)
informal in a little while
18 ♦
just on having reached exactly
it's just on five o'clock
a an expression of complete agreement or of unwillingness to dissent
b arranged with precision
(C14: from Latin justus righteous, from jus justice)
♦
justly adv
♦
justness n
The use of just with exactly (it's just exactly what they want) is redundant and should be avoided: it's exactly what they want