joke Definition
joke (jōk)
noun
- anything said or done to arouse laughter; specif.,
- a funny anecdote with a punch line
- an amusing trick played on someone
- the humorous element in a situation
- a thing done or said merely in fun
- a person or thing to be laughed at, not to be taken seriously, because absurd, ridiculous, etc.
Etymology: L jocus, a joke, game < IE base *jek-, to speak > OHG jehan
intransitive verb joked, jok′·ing
- to tell or play jokes
- to say or do something as a joke; jest
Etymology: < jokethe or L jocari, to joke
transitive verb
- Now Rare to make fun of; make (a person) the object of jokes or teasing
- to bring to a specified condition by joking
joke Related Forms
joke Idioms
no joke
a serious matter
joke Synonyms
joke
n.
An action intended to be funny
prank, buffoonery, game, sport, frolic, practical joke, gag, trick, hoax, revel, clowning, caper, caprice, mischief, escapade, stunt, fooling, foolery, tomfoolery, horseplay, pleasantry, fun, play, gambol, antic, lark, drollery, waggery, farce, mummery, monkeyshine*, shenanigan*, put-on*; see also sense 2; trick 1.Words intended to be funny
jest, witticism, pun, play on words, quip, bon mot, one-liner, gag, anecdote, pleasantry, banter, drollery, jocularity, riposte, retort, conceit, repartee, give-and-take, rejoinder, sally, persiflage, mot, jeu d'esprit (French), chestnut, epigram, badinage, raillery, smart answer, punch line, jape, crack*, wisecrack*, funny*, shaggy dog story*, zinger*, rib-tickler*; see also sense 1.A ridiculous person or thing
laughingstock, butt, mockery, figure of fun, farce, laugh, sham; see also fake, fool 2.
joke Synonyms
joke
v.
joke Usage Examples
Converse of object
- crack: Most platoon officers were first class and well liked by the lads, even cracking jokes with us.
- tell: They also told rude jokes, or imitated birds or animals to get a crowd.
- perpetrate: A cruel joke perpetrated on believers to make them feel better about life being a struggle, sometimes brutal and painful.
- hear: I can't wait to hear the next joke.
- enjoy: John Robson is seen here enjoying a joke with his Joint Master Jimmy Edwards at a Meet in 1979.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- aside: Joking aside, we had a great time working in Scotland.
- around: He films Jesse's car ride to the courtroom and them joking around outside it, despite the prospect of a daunting jail sentence.
Adjective modifier
- dirty: In the workplace men, and women now, are expected to laugh at dirty jokes, and even tell dirty jokes.
- funny: Post the latest funny SMS jokes here for all to laugh at.
- silly: A junior often bursts into laughter, as the boss has a bout of cracking silly jokes.
- cruel: Chris's idea of fun is playing cruel jokes on local journalists.
- lame: I'm not going to stand here and give you a list of lame jokes.
- sick: With the town basking in the glory of our unique status this is surely some kind of sick joke?
Noun used with modifier
- mama: Knock knock jokes, your mama jokes, why did the chicken cross the road.
- viola: Stephen: " Do you know any good viola player jokes?
- dick: Now, to quote Kevin Smith, " enough being political, lets do some dick jokes " .
- mother-in-law: This really could be the genesis of the fat mother-in-law joke, " one of the team breathlessly asserted.
- sms: Post the latest funny SMS jokes here for all to laugh at.
- knock: Knock knock jokes, your mama jokes, why did the chicken cross the road.
Browse dictionary entries near joke
- ‹ jojoba
- ‹ joist
- ‹ Joinville
- ‹ jointworm
- ‹ jointweed
- ‹ jointure
- ‹ jointress
- ‹ jointly and severally
- ‹ jointly
- ‹ jointer
- joker ›
- jokester ›
- jokey ›
- joking ›
- jokingly ›
- Jokjakarta ›
- jolie laide ›
- Joliet ›
- Joliot-Curie ›
- jollify ›

