DictionaryAI

joke

SayJOHK/d͡ʒoʊk/UK/d͡ʒəʊk/

Pluraljokes

Verbjokes, joking, joked

7 meanings of joke

Practice

  1. 1
    a bit of funnouncountable
    Something you say or do for fun, not because you really mean it.

    Calm down, it was just a joke.

    Hiding his keys was only a joke, but he didn't laugh.

    UsageSay it was just a joke, or play a joke on someone.

    Similarprank, jest, gag, lark

  2. 2
    story for laughsnouncountable
    A short, funny story that you tell to make people laugh.

    Grandpa told the same joke at every family dinner.

    Her joke about the talking dog made the whole class laugh.

    UsageSay tell a joke: he told a joke about his dog.

    Similargag, quip, wisecrack

    Note
  3. 3
    be playfulverbintransitive
    To say or do something for fun, not in a serious way.

    He likes to joke, even during serious meetings.

    They joked about the rain all afternoon while they waited.

    UsageSay I was only joking or just joking.

    Similarbanter, jest, quip, kid

  4. 4
    laughably badnounfigurativelycountable
    A thing or person so bad that people cannot take it seriously.

    That lock is a joke. Anyone could open it with a pen.

    The team's defense was a joke last season, and everyone knew it.

    UsageOften a total joke or a complete joke.

    Similarfarce, sham, travesty, mockery

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    easier than expectednounfigurativelycountable
    Something that turns out to be much easier than you expected.

    Like getting ready for a big race and finding out the track is only ten steps long.

    The test was a joke. I finished it in ten minutes.

    After climbing the steep hill, the rest of the walk was a joke.

    Similarbreeze, cinch, doddle, snap

  2. 6
    verbdatedtransitive
    To tease someone in a friendly way by making jokes about them.
    He made more than one visit to Oxbridge, where the young fellows were amused by entertaining the old gentleman, and gave parties and breakfasts and fêtes, partly to joke him and partly to do him honour.
    1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of PendennisHere, joke means tease in a friendly, playful way.

    UsageToday people say tease instead.

    Similartease, kid, rib, josh

    Note
  3. 7
    ironic twistnounfiguratively
    The funny or surprising thing about a situation.

    The joke of it was that the door had been unlocked the whole time.

    The joke was that my lost keys were in my pocket.

    UsageSay the joke was that the door was open.

Practice

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Origin

From Latin iocus, meaning "joke" or "jest," which came from an old root meaning "word" or "to speak."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts