10 Ways to Use JUST

10 Ways to Use JUST in English (with Clear Examples)

Hello English learners 👋 Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we’re looking at 10 common and very useful ways to use the word just. Although it looks simple, just can express time, emphasis, limitation, politeness, fairness, and more. That’s why it appears constantly in spoken English, writing, and Cambridge exams (B2–C1).

Let’s break it down step by step.

1️⃣ JUST for recent time

We use just to say that something happened a very short time ago.

• I’ve just finished my homework.
• Mary’s just called to say she’ll be here soon.
• They’ve just left the office.

Common with the present perfect, especially in British English.

2️⃣ JUST for exactness or precision

Just can mean exactly or precisely.

• That’s just what I needed.
• She’s just the person I was looking for.
• The answer is just as simple as it seems.

3️⃣ JUST to express fairness or justice

Here, just describes something that is fair or morally right.

• It’s only just that everyone gets a turn.
• The decision was fair and just.
• All employees deserve just treatment.

This use is more common in formal writing.

4️⃣ JUST to show limitation or restriction

We use just to mean only or nothing more than.

• This room is just for storage.
• We have just enough food for tonight.
• The offer is just for new customers.

5️⃣ JUST to soften requests or statements

This is extremely common in spoken English. It makes requests sound polite and less direct.

• Could you just pass me the salt?
• I just wanted to ask a quick question.
• If you could just sign here, that would be great.

Very natural in everyday conversation.

6️⃣ JUST for emphasis

Just can add emotional emphasis to what you’re saying.

• It’s just amazing how fast time flies.
• I just can’t believe it!
• You’re just brilliant at this.

7️⃣ JUST to show approximation

We use just when something is almost or very nearly the case.

• It’s just about time to leave.
• The deadline is just a few days away.
• He arrived just in time.

8️⃣ JUST for actions completed very recently

This meaning overlaps with time, but focuses on completed actions.

• I’ve just finished reading that book.
• She’s just walked in.
• They’ve just announced the winner.

Again, very common with the present perfect.

9️⃣ JUST meaning “only”

Here, just limits the situation to one thing or person.

• She was just a child at the time.
• I need just a minute.
• It’s just me at home tonight.

🔟 JUST meaning “barely” or “by a small margin”

We use just to show that something happened by the smallest amount possible.

• She just caught the bus.
• He passed the exam by just one point.
• They won by just a single goal.

Final tip

Because just has so many meanings, context is everything. When you see it, always ask yourself:

Is it about time, emphasis, limitation, politeness, or fairness?

Mastering small words like just is exactly what makes your English sound natural, fluent, and confident — especially at B2 and C1 level.