1
a
: something said or done to provoke laughter
especially
: a brief oral narrative with a climactic humorous twist
b(1)
: the humorous or ridiculous element in something
(2)
: an instance of jesting : kidding
can't take a joke
c
d
2
: something not to be taken seriously : a trifling matter
consider his skiing a joke—
Harold Callender
—often used in negative constructionsHarold Callenderit is no joke to be lost in the desert
Synonyms
Examples of joke in a Sentence
Noun
She meant it as a joke, but many people took her seriously.
They played a harmless joke on him.
They are always making jokes about his car.
I heard a funny joke yesterday.
the punch line of a joke
I didn't get the joke.
That exam was a joke.
Their product became a joke in the industry.
He's in danger of becoming a national joke.
Verb
My friends would joke about the uniform I had to wear at work.
She joked about the possibility of losing her job.
I thought he was joking when he said he might quit, but it turned out that he really meant it.
Don't take it seriously: I was only joking.
She spent a few minutes joking with reporters after giving her speech.
She joked that she could always get work as a truck driver if she lost her job.
Recent Examples on the WebJason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 3 July 2024
In the spring of 2014, the Los Angeles Clippers, a longtime laughingstock, were no longer the joke of the town, no longer The Other Los Angeles Basketball Team.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 3 July 2024
Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024
Argentines joking around in lilting Spanish and Australians with their distinctive garrulous accent.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke 
Noun
Some of Harris’ more memorable lines quickly became running jokes.
—Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 3 July 2024
In the spring of 2014, the Los Angeles Clippers, a longtime laughingstock, were no longer the joke of the town, no longer The Other Los Angeles Basketball Team.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 3 July 2024
Verb
In April, Biden was criticized by the New York Times for his lack of access to the media, and the president joked about it in his speech at the White House Correspondent’s Association’s annual dinner.
—Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024
Argentines joking around in lilting Spanish and Australians with their distinctive garrulous accent.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'joke.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near joke
Cite this Entry
“Joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joke. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
joke
1 of 2 noun1
a
: something said or done to cause laughter
especially
: a brief story with a humorous twist
b
: the humorous element in something
c
: good-natured kidding
can't take a joke
2
: something not to be taken seriously
that exam was a joke
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