What does "joke" mean?
Joke: Something not said seriously, or not actually meant; something done in sport. Inclose whole downs in walls, 't is all a joke. Pope. In joke, in jest; sportively; not meant seriously. -- Practical joke. See under Practical.
Additional senses
- 2.To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally; to banter; as, to joke a comrade.
- 3.To do something for sport, or as a joke; to be merry in words or actions; to jest. He laughed, shouted, joked, and swore. Macaulay. See Jest.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00