joke

[ johk ]
/ dʒoʊk /

noun

verb (used without object), joked, jok·ing.

to speak or act in a playful or merry way: He was always joking with us.
to say something in fun or teasing rather than in earnest; be facetious: He didn't really mean it, he was only joking.

verb (used with object), joked, jok·ing.

to subject to jokes; make fun of; tease.
to obtain by joking: The comedian joked coins from the audience.

Origin of joke

First recorded in 1660–70, joke is from the Latin word jocus jest

SYNONYMS FOR joke

1 wisecrack, gag, jape, prank, quip, quirk, sally, raillery. Joke, jest refer to something said (or done) in sport, or to cause amusement. A joke is something said or done for the sake of exciting laughter; it may be raillery, a witty remark, or a prank or trick: to tell a joke. Jest, today a more formal word, nearly always refers to joking language and is more suggestive of scoffing or ridicule than is joke : to speak in jest.

OTHER WORDS FROM joke

Words nearby joke

Example sentences from the Web for half-joking

British Dictionary definitions for half-joking (1 of 2)

half-joking

adjective

said, done, or acting in a seemingly jokey manner, but with some serious intent

Derived forms of half-joking

half-jokingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for half-joking (2 of 2)

joke
/ (dʒəʊk) /

noun

verb

Derived forms of joke

jokingly, adverb

Word Origin for joke

C17: from Latin jocus a jest

Idioms and Phrases with half-joking

joke

see crack a joke; dirty joke; no joke; sick joke; standing joke; take a joke.