What does joking mean?
“Joking” describes language or behaviour that is intended to amuse, tease, or entertain rather than convey a serious purpose. It can describe a person’s manner, as in “a joking conversation,” or a remark, as in “That was only a joking suggestion.” The expression “I’m joking” and its shortened form “I’m joking” are especially common ways of clarifying that an apparent joke is not meant lightly. As a verb, “joking” means engaging in playful banter or making jokes, usually with the implication that the subject is not being serious. The word can therefore carry different tones: it may be warm and playful, mildly sarcastic, or deliberately surprising. Its usefulness lies in its ability to distinguish humorous or performative speech from sincere communication, often with the brief phrase “not joking” carrying especially strong emphasis.
Humorous, playful, or teasing rather than serious; also used in the emphatic expression “not joking.”
"His joking reply concealed an important warning."
“Not joking” stresses that the speaker is completely serious. The adjective is especially common in informal and conversational English.
To make jokes or engage in playful teasing.
"They jokingly asked whether the robot could take them to the moon."
This is the present participle of “joke” and is commonly used in progressive constructions and with adverbial modifiers.
A joking remark may carry no laughter at all: “I’m not joking” is often the clearest way to insist that something is completely serious.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does joking come from?
The word “joking” derives from “joke,” which comes through English from the late 16th century from the Latin jocus, meaning “a jest” or “a joke.” The same Latin root also produced words such as “jocular,” meaning habitually humorous, and “jocose,” meaning joking or playful. The suffix “-ing” gives the modern participle and adjective forms, with the meaning of engaging in jesting or speaking in a joking manner.
How joking is actually used
In everyday English, “not joking” is emphatic and usually means that the speaker is entirely serious. The word is often informal in attributive uses such as “a joking remark,” while “in jest” may sound more formal or literary.