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
John Russell, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Highlights included jokes about Trump, who hosted SNL in 2015, wearing an orange and yellow safety jacket as a jab at a garbage controversy and a comedic bit involving a broken microphone.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Kimmel shared footage of a Pennsylvania rally where Trump joked about reporters getting shot.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joke 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Saget and Coulier’s characters — who have also gained weight in old age — repeatedly make jokes about her size, which didn’t sit right with the Tanneritos hosts.
—John Russell, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Highlights included jokes about Trump, who hosted SNL in 2015, wearing an orange and yellow safety jacket as a jab at a garbage controversy and a comedic bit involving a broken microphone.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Meyers also joked about having gone to an election watch party.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Kimmel shared footage of a Pennsylvania rally where Trump joked about reporters getting shot.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 5 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 22 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share