Phrase guide

just as well

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adv

Meaning 1

Used to say that an occurrence, or situation, is not only fortunate, but that on the contrary, it could have been a lot worse; or that something that might at first seem bad is actually good because it could have been worse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • It's just as well you missed the train: it ended up crashing.
  • 2007, Nov 30, Tomas Alex Tizon, in The LA Times, America's taxi capital: Bethel, Alaska. There are 16 female cabdrivers in town, most of them Koreans with limited English skills. Which is just as well, says Alla Tinker, because they don't want to understand much of what their male customers say.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see just, as well, as, well.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • A paper cup will do (us) just as well.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.