What does jousted mean?
Jousted is the past tense and past participle of joust, a word associated with formal combat in which mounted opponents met with lances. It means that a participant engaged in such a contest, as in “the two knights jousted before the crowd.” In contemporary writing, jousted is also used metaphorically to describe a determined, adversarial contest between people, organizations, or ideas. The metaphor suits the word’s historical tone: a joust was a ceremonially organized contest associated with chivalry, skill, and displays of courage. Because jousted evokes an archaic and highly visual ritual, it adds drama and literary flavor to accounts of rivalry. Its use is uncommon in neutral everyday speech and can sound deliberately elevated, historical, or theatrical. It should not be confused with jostled, which means to push or crowd roughly rather than engage in a formal contest.
Participated in a joust, a formal contest in which opponents, typically mounted, met with lances; figuratively, competed in a determined or adversarial contest.
"The champions jousted in the final before a large gathering."
The literal sense is chiefly literary, historical, or sporting. Figurative uses retain the word’s elevated tone.
Having engaged in a joust.
"The jousted knight lowered his lance and bowed to his opponent."
Rare and typically literary, occurring chiefly as a participial modifier.
Long before comment sections, rival knights settled their arguments with lances—and a judge.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How jousted is actually used
The literal sense is chiefly literary, historical, or sporting, while the figurative sense is used for stylized rivalry. The word has an elevated, ceremonial tone and is uncommon in everyday neutral speech.
Easily confused with jousted
To joust is to engage in a formal contest, whereas to jostle is to push or move roughly within a crowd.