😄 A joke 😄 To joke

to jest

11 5.7

To say or do something as a joke to make people laugh

verb
/dʒɛst/

: bromear

Rosemary looked stunned, but then said in a tone of jesting reproof, "Gib, you never take anything seriously except your lousy movies."

So I still have it and I and it's Pam's Egg Breakfast and I've I've jested up a bit here and there, but.

Examples

- My sister was only jesting.

Die by the Sword (2020)
You surely jest!

The ARK (2022)
Surely you jest; though, it could not be as simple as that.

Blog text (4)
I jest because I'm so afraid.

Luther (2003)
It's undignified for a king to jest.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
Surely you jest.

George and the Dragon (2004)
Darling, don't even jest.

S.O.S. Titanic (1980)
You're jesting, of course.

Thunder on the Hill (1951)
Olson jests that the Maryland group "could make headlines with either a self-excited dynamo or a spectacular sodium spill."

Academic text (2006)
He loves to jest with his friends during their game nights.

Synonyms

to kid

vsto jest

Informal

∞ 3.5

To tease someone in a friendly, playful way

is the wider act of playful speech or action beyond teasing

to joke

vsto jest

476 1.0

To say or do something to make people laugh

is broader playful speech or action not only for laughter

to joke about

vsto jest

80 2.9

Say something funny, often unkind, about someone or something

is playful more generally and not necessarily aimed at others

to joke around

vsto jest

Informal

40 2.4

To say funny things and behave in a playful way to make people laugh

also covers single playful actions, not only ongoing talk

to play tricks

vsto jest

15 3.0

To make someone believe something that is not true as a joke

is a playful act but not focused on deception or mischief

to crack a joke

vsto jest

Informal

10 2.9

Tell a joke to make people laugh

is a broader playful act, not limited to quick remarks

to banter

vsto jest

Informal

9 4.6

To tease someone in a friendly, playful way

is usually a single person doing a playful act or remark

to josh

vsto jest

Informal

7 6.5

Make fun of someone in a friendly, playful way

is broader, including playful acts that are not warm teasing

to play a joke on

vsto jest

Informal

5 3.2

To trick someone in a friendly way to make them laugh

is playful speech or action without the aim of deception

to fun

vsto jest

Informal

4 7.5

To tease someone in a playful way

is broader playful action that may not be merely enjoyable teasing

to gag

vsto jest

Informal

1 4.5

To joke in a light, playful way

is general playful speech or action rather than only quips

to jape

vsto jest

Archaic

1 8.7

To make a playful joke or trick someone to make them laugh

is general playful action without the mocking or tricking focus

Idioms

in jest

Informal

9 6.6

In a joking way not meant to be taken seriously

all in jest

6.7

Said or done as a joke and not meant to be serious

How Playful

to joke

476 1.0

to jest

11 5.7

to tease

245 1.9

Surface Forms

jest infinitive

jested past

jested past participle

jesting present participle

jests third person singular

Etymology

Jest as a verb comes from the same old French idea geste meaning 'action' or 'show' and is linked to jester, the joker who performed to make people laugh. That's why to jest is to say or do something in a joking, playful way.