jest

jest

noun \ˈjest\

Definition of JEST

1

: an utterance (as a jeer or quip) intended to be taken as mockery or humor

2

a : prank b : a ludicrous circumstance or incident

3

a : a frivolous mood or manner <spoken in jest> b : gaiety and merriment

4

: laughingstock

— jest verb

Examples of JEST

1. It was a harmless jest.
2. <you should know that our teasing was done entirely in jest>

Origin of JEST

Middle English geste idle tale, story in verse, from Anglo-French, deed, action, narrative, from Latin gesta deeds, from neuter plural of gestus, past participle of gerere to bear, wage

First Known Use: circa 1548

Related to JEST

Synonyms: game, fun, play, sport

Antonyms: earnest

Related Words: facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness, frothiness, levity, light-mindedness, silliness

Near Antonyms: earnestness, gravity, seriousness, soberness, sobriety, solemnity

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

See Synonym Discussion at fun

Rhymes with JEST

best, breast, Brest, chest, crest, gest, geste, guest, hest, jessed, lest, nest, pest, quest, rest, test, tressed, vest, west, wrest, zest