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Really vs Just - What's the difference?

really | just |

As an adverb really

is (lb) actually; in fact; in reality.

As an interjection really

is indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information; to express skepticism.

As a proper noun just is

, cognate to english justus.

really

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • (lb) Actually; in fact; in reality.
  • :
  • Very (modifying an adjective); very much (modifying a verb).
  • :
  • *, chapter=10
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.}}
  • *
  • *:There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that. It was curled, frizzed, waved, put in curlers overnight, waved with hot tongs;.
  • Usage notes

    * Like its synonyms, really is, in practice, often used to preface an opinion, rather than a fact. (See also usage notes for .) : Increasingly people are recognising what's really important is having children. '>citation

    Synonyms

    * (actually) actually, in fact, indeed, truly * (sense) so

    Statistics

    *

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • Indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information; to express skepticism.
  • A: He won the Nobel Prize yesterday.
    B: Really?
  • Indicating that what was just said was obvious and unnecessary; contrived incredulity
  • A: I've just been reading Shakespeare - he's one of the best authors like, ever!
    B: Really .
  • (colloquial, chiefly, US) Indicating affirmation, agreement.
  • A: That girl talks about herself way too much.
    B: Really . She's a nightmare.
  • Indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour or statement.
  • Well, really ! How rude.

    Synonyms

    * you don't say, no kidding, oh really, no really

    References

    just

    English

    (wikipedia just)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) juste, from (etyl) juste, from (etyl) . Cognate with Dutch & Scottish juist, French juste etc.

    Adjective

  • Factually ; right, correct; proper.
  • It is a just assessment of the facts.
  • Morally ; upright; righteous, equitable.
  • It looks like a just solution at first glance.
  • * Shakespeare
  • We know your grace to be a man / Just and upright.
    Synonyms
    * fair * upright * righteous * equitable
    Antonyms
    * unjust
    Derived terms
    * justly * justness

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Only, simply, merely.
  • * , chapter=8
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=Philander went into the next room, which was just a lean-to hitched on to the end of the shanty, and came back with a salt mackerel that dripped brine like a rainstorm. Then he put the coffee pot on the stove and rummaged out a loaf of dry bread and some hardtack.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-08, volume=407, issue=8839, page=52, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The new masters and commanders , passage=From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-14, author= Sam Leith
  • , volume=189, issue=1, page=37, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Where the profound meets the profane , passage=Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths.}}
  • (sentence adverb) (Used to reduce the force of an imperative); simply.
  • (speech act) (Used to convey a less serious or formal tone)
  • (speech act) (Used to show humility).
  • (degree) absolutely, positively
  • Moments ago, recently.
  • * , chapter=8
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=Philander went into the next room
  • By a narrow margin; closely; nearly.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=14 citation , passage=Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall.  Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime.}}
  • Exactly, perfectly.
  • Precisely.
  • * (John Dryden)
  • And having just enough, not covet more.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
  • The god Pan guided my hand just to the heart of the beast.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • To-night, at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=70, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Engineers of a different kind , passage=Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.}}
    Synonyms
    * merely, simply * barely, hardly, scarcely
    Derived terms
    * just folks

    Etymology 2

    Variation of joust, presumably ultimately from (etyl) iuxta 'near, besides'.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A joust, tournament.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To joust, fight a tournament.
  • (Fairfax)

    References

    * *

    Statistics

    *