How to Use jest in a Sentence

jest

noun
  • It was a harmless jest.
  • Be sure that your jests don’t become insults!
    — Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Stir in heavy cream, lemon jest and juice, thyme and vanilla extract.
    — Dallas News, 9 Aug. 2021
  • Even away from the tent and this season’s bakers, the pair can’t help but joke and jest.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
  • Biden turned around and lifted his hands in jest of the lighthearted moment.
    — Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 5 June 2023
  • Frost said in jest to much laughter during his postgame press conference.
    — Chris Hays, OrlandoSentinel.com, 1 Sep. 2017
  • What the country really needs now is a king, some Brazilians say in jest.
    — Simon Romero, New York Times, 26 May 2017
  • But even their jabs are in jest—this friendship is rooted in sincerity.
    — Vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, 27 Feb. 2017
  • Why would the president of the United States do such a thing, even in jest?
    — Liam Stack, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2016
  • Sellner positioned the memes as something that could be taken in jest.
    — Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
  • And unfortunately, names like that were given to slaves in jest.
    — Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2023
  • Another staffer said Trump took Obama’s remarks to be made in jest.
    — Jeet Heer, New Republic, 8 May 2017
  • Enright remembers the topic coming up in jest the rest of that season, but no race ever took place.
    — Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2022
  • Payton said, perhaps only half in jest, while DePaul laughed.
    — Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2017
  • In a world that codes your existence as a threat, jokes and jest can be salves for processing harsh experiences.
    — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023
  • Yet every jest recalled, however late.
    — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Simmons said principals were given discretion over the dress code, and any threats involving a bat were made in jest.
    — Jacob Carpenter, Houston Chronicle, 23 Oct. 2017
  • Usually, it is mentioned in jest, or perhaps in a fit of post-game exasperation.
    — Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 29 Oct. 2017
  • Murray addressed the incident earlier this year, stating that his actions were done in jest.
    — Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Emirates has toyed with the idea of a triple decker but seemingly seriously and also in jest, but for now no such thing exists.
    — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, 7 Aug. 2017
  • There was a good bit of growling involved, but all was in jest, said Crosby’s owner, Mansi Shah, 22.
    — Mary Hui, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2017
  • Part of DeLillo’s mordant jest of a book, and the fun of the wordplay, is that the adults are children, too — especially the niche academics.
    — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022
  • This was all in jest though and while many would object to making homophobia a joke, there didn’t appear to be actual malice behind it, at least from a superficial look.
    — Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Drake isn’t too happy with YouTube music critic Anthony Fantano‘s latest jest.
    — Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2022
  • Alas, poor Virgin America, an airline of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.
    — Ryan Craggs, CNT, 10 Oct. 2017
  • Rodrigues’s ultimate jest exposes the scandal and outrage that are hidden by post-Obergefell propriety.
    — Armond White, National Review, 31 May 2023
  • Recognizing the lawsuit, Mwanyenyeka proceeded to laugh and told the audience the backstory of the viral jest.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
  • In a small arena outside Mexico City, Ford encountered some novilleros (fighters who only battle young bulls) who invited her, half in jest, to train with them.
    — Fortunato Salazar, Marie Claire, 13 Mar. 2017
  • Their co-star, Selena Gomez, joined in to jest that both Martin and Short would likely lose in the male actor in a comedy series category.
    — Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2023
  • Though many were excited at the the prospect of the omnipresent talk-show host sitting in the Oval Office, her best friend, Gayle King, was quick to note this proclamation was only in jest.
    — Hilary Weaver, Vanities, 16 Mar. 2017

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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