1 meanings
Just has several meanings, a time
Just often emphasises the idea of ‘at this moment’ or ‘close to the present’. I’ll be down in a minute – I’m just changing my shirt. (= right now)
Alice has just phoned. (= a short time ago)
Keith’s still around. I saw him just last week. (= as recently as)
In expressions like just after, just before and just when, just suggests closeness to the time in question.
I saw him just after lunch. (= … very soon after lunch.)
b ‘only’, ‘scarcely’
Just can mean ‘only’, ‘nothing more than’, ‘scarcely’.
Complete set of garden tools for just Ј15.99!
I just want somebody to love me – that’s all.
We just caught the train.
This meaning can be emphasised by only.
There was only just enough light to read by.
Can/Could I just
…? can make a request seem less demanding.
Could I just use your phone for a moment?
c ‘exactly’
Just often means ‘exactly’.
What’s the time? justIt’s just four o’clock.
Thanks. That’s just what I wanted.
She’s just as bad-tempered as her father.
d emphasiser
Just can emphasise other words and expressions, with the sense of ‘simply’, ‘there’s no other word for it’.
You’re just beautiful. I just love your dress.
2 tenses
When just means ‘a moment ago’, past and present perfect tenses are both possible in British English. A present perfect is preferred when we are giving news. Compare:
Where’s Eric? just He’s just gone out.
I’ve just had a brilliant idea.
John just phoned. His wife’s had a baby.
(The news is the baby, not the phone call.)
In American English a past tense is normal in all cases.
Where’s Eric? just He just went out.
I just had a brilliant idea.
3 just now
Just now can mean either ‘at this moment’ or ‘a few moments ago’. Compare: She’s not in just now. Can I take a message?
I saw Phil just now. He wanted to talk to you.
When just now means ‘a few moments ago’, two positions are possible:
a in end-position, usually with a past tense.
I telephoned Ann just now.
b in mid-position (see adverb position 4: mid-position) with the verb, with a present perfect or past tense. I Cue) just now realised what I need to do.
just
• adjective and adverb see adverbs or adjectives? confusing cases.2
• just and justly see adverbs or adjectives? confusing cases.2
• just (adverb): meanings and tenses see just
• position see adverb position 4: mid-position.6 , see adverb position 5: emphasising adverbs
• used for emphasis see emphasis.3
• just asl when see as, when and while: simultaneous events.3
• just as (discourse marker) see discourse markers.4
For more information consult a good dictionary like Langman, Oxford, Merriam Webster, or Collins.