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 Web
Esther Kang, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
But for my money–and that’s a joke–the best show on the radio might be Marketplace.
—Outside Online, 13 Nov. 2024
Janine Henni, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
With professional pianists as parents, Sasha Kasman Laude jokes that the free lessons nudged her toward the same career path.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke 
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show current usage.
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Noun
While recalling the series of events leading up to the reveal, Brynn claimed that Erin had looped her in on the joke.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
But for my money–and that’s a joke–the best show on the radio might be Marketplace.
—Outside Online, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
Prince Albert previously joked to PEOPLE about how their expanding family can create a bit of a hiccup on National Day — no room on the palace balcony!
—Janine Henni, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
With professional pianists as parents, Sasha Kasman Laude jokes that the free lessons nudged her toward the same career path.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke
Dictionary Entries Near joke
Cite this Entry
“Joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joke. Accessed 28 Nov. 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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