What does jut mean?
Jut means to project or protrude, especially in a way that is noticeable against the surrounding surface or landscape. A cliff may jut into the water, a building may jut out from a row of houses, or a distinctive architectural feature may jut above the roofline. The verb can also be used figuratively: a person, idea, or quality may jut out by being unusually prominent or unconventional. Although the basic sense concerns physical projection, modern usage is not restricted to literal objects, and the word often suggests a sharp, noticeable, or somewhat forceful extension. Its related noun refers to a projecting point or prominence, though this use is less common than the verb. In descriptions of landscapes, coastlines, architecture, and design, the word offers a concise way to convey conspicuous projection.
To project or protrude beyond a surface, boundary, or surrounding area; to stand out.
"The island juts out into the lake like a dark prow."
Often used with "out"; the sense can be literal or figurative.
A projecting point, edge, or prominence.
"The fort was built on a small jut of rock above the river."
This noun sense is less common than the verb and has a somewhat literary quality.
The plural is chiefly used for separate projecting points or prominences; the plural of the verb is also "juts".
"Several rocky juts divide the sheltered inlet into small coves."
A headland that juts into the sea interrupts the shoreline, making this modest word useful for anything that boldly projects beyond the expected outline.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of jut
The verb entered English during the late medieval period, probably through influence from Old French. Its precise ultimate source is uncertain, and modern English developed the sense of projecting or extending outward from a surrounding surface. The present form is related to the third-person singular and gerund forms familiar in modern usage, including "juts" and "jutting."
Related word forms
How jut is actually used
The verb is commonly followed by "out" when emphasizing projection. It is standard in both British and American English and can describe either physical features or figurative prominence.
Easily confused with jut
Jut means to project or protrude, whereas cut means to divide, sever, or shape with a sharp tool.