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just now
/dʒʌst naʊ/
very recently
I saw her just now, but she left immediately.
The speaker refers to a time immediately before the present moment.
informal
very recently; a short time ago
I spoke to the manager just now, and he agreed to help.
The speaker is referring to a conversation that happened moments before.
She was here just now, but she's gone already.
The speaker emphasizes the recency of the person's presence.
Used in British English and some Commonwealth dialects. In American English, 'just now' can sometimes mean 'right now' or 'at this moment,' but this usage is less common.
Collocations
just nowused to emphasize recent past events
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid ambiguity in American English
In American English, 'just now' can sometimes be misinterpreted as 'right now.' Use 'right now' or 'at this moment' for present tense contexts to avoid confusion.
Gold Rule
Use 'just now' for recent past only
Always use 'just now' to refer to events that happened a very short time ago. Do not use it to describe actions happening at the present moment.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'just' (meaning 'exactly' or 'very recently') and 'now' (the present moment). The adverbial use of 'just' in this context dates back to Middle English, evolving from Old French 'juste' (near, close).
Usage Notes
Avoid using 'just now' to mean 'at this exact moment' in formal writing, as it may cause ambiguity. In American English, 'right now' or 'at this moment' is preferred for present tense contexts.
Word Breakdown
just
very recently
adverbnow
the present time
adverbEnglish Dictionary